Final answer:
Nurse cells, or Sertoli cells, support spermatogenesis by creating a protective microenvironment and forming a blood-testis barrier to protect developing sperm cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of nurse cells, also known as Sertoli cells, is C. to create a microenvironment that supports spermatogenesis and form the blood-testis barrier that isolates sperm from the blood. These elongate, branching cells are a type of supporting cell found in epithelial tissue within the seminiferous tubules of the testes. Sertoli cells secrete signaling molecules to promote sperm production and establish tight junctions between themselves, thus creating the blood-testis barrier. This barrier prevents bloodborne substances from reaching the developing germ cells (spermatocytes and spermatids), protecting them and preventing an autoimmune response against the germ cells.