Skip to main content

Ultrastructure and stereological analysis of Leydig cells

  • Chapter
Ultrastructure of Endocrine Cells and Tissues

Part of the book series: Electron Microscopy in Biology and Medicine ((EMBM,volume 1))

Abstract

Shortly after the demonstration of the androgenic function of the testis by Berthold, Leydig reported in 1850 the presence of testicular interstitial cells in some species (1). These cells now bear his name. In the 1930s, progress in the study of pituitary hormones substantially established the Leydig cells to be the main source of testosterone in the male. Since the 1960s, the use of electron microscopy has revealed the morphological details of this cell type. The relation of the ultrastructure to pertinent biochemical and physiological information has opened a new dimension of studies of the male reproductive system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Leydig F: Zur Anatomie der männlichen Geschlechtsorgane und Analdrüsen der Säugethiere. Z Wiss Zool 2: 1–57, 1850.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Leeson CR: Observations on the fine structure of rat interstitial tissue. Acta Anat 52: 34–18, 1963.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Christensen AK, Fawcett DW: The fine structure of testicular interstitial cells in mice. Am J Anat 118: 551–572, 1966.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Christensen AK, Fawcett DW: The normal fine structure of opossum testicular interstitial cells. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 9: 653–670, 1961.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Burgos MH, Vitale-Calpe R, Aoki A: Fine structure of the testis and its functional significance. In: The testis. Johnson AD, Gomes WR, Vandemark NL (eds), New York, Vandemark NL (eds), 1970, vol 1, pp 551–649.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Belt WD, Cavazos LF: Fine structure of the interstitial cells of Leydig in the boar. Anat Ree 158: 333–349, 1967.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hooker CW: The intertubular tissue of the testis. In: The testis Johnson AD, Gomes WR, Vandemark NL (eds), New York, Academic Press, 1970, vol. 1, pp 483–550.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Christensen AK: Leydig cells. In: Handbook of Physiology. Hamilton DW, Greep RO (eds), Am Physiol Soc, Washington DC, 1975, sec 7, vol V pp 57–94.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hall PF: Endocrinology in the testis. In: The testis. Johnson AD, Gomes WR, Vandemark NL (eds), New York, Vandemark NL (eds), 1970, vol 2, pp 1–71.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Reinke Fr: Beiträge zur Histologie des Menschen. I. Ueber Krystalloidbildungen in den interstitiellen Zellen des menschlichen Hodens. Arch Mikrosk Anat Entwicklungsgesch 47: 34 — 44, 1896.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Fawcett DW, Neaves WB, Flores MN: Comparative observations on intertubular lymphatics and the organization of the interstitial tissue of the mammalian testis. Biol Reprod 9: 500–532, 1973.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Idelman S: Ultrastructure of the mammalian adrenal cortex. Int Rev Cytol 27: 181–281, 1970.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Crisp TM, Dessouky DA, Denys FR: The fine structure of the human corpus luteum of early pregnancy and during the progestational phase of the menstrual cycle. Am J Anat 127: 37–70, 1970.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mori H: The fine structure of interstitial gland cells in rabbit ovaries. Med J Osaka Univ 20: 215–233, 1970.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Murakami M, Kitahara Y: Cylindrical bodies derived from endoplasmic reticulum in Leydig’s cell of the rat testis. J Electron Microsc 20: 318–323, 1971.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Frank AL, Christensen AK: Localization of acid phosphatase in lipofuscin granules and possible autophagic vacuoles in interstitial cells of the guinea pig testis. J Cell Biol 36: 1–13, 1968.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Nagano T, Ohtsuki I: Reinvestigation of the fine structure of Reinke’s crystal in the human testicular interstitial cell. J Cell Biol 51: 148–161, 1971.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Mori H, Fukunishi R, Fujii M, Hataji K, Shiraishi T, Matsumoto K: Stereological analysis of Reinke’s crystals in human Leydig cells. Virchows Arch A 380: 1–9, 1978.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Christensen AK, Peacock KC: Increase in Leydig cell number in testes of adult rats treated chronically with an excess of human chorionic gonadotropin. Biol Reprod 22: 383–391, 1980.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Weibel ER, Bolender RP: Stereological techniques for electron micros copic morphometry. In: Principles and techniques of electron microscopy. Hayat MA (ed), New York, Hayat MA (ed), 1973, vol 3, pp 237–296.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Dykes JRW: Histometric assessment of human testicular biopsies. J Path 97: 429–440, 1969.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ahmad KN, Lennox B, Mack WS: Estimation of the volume of Leydig cells in man. Lancet 2: 46M64, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ewing LL, Zirkin BR, Cochran RC, Kromann N, Peters C, Ruis-Bravo N: Testosterone secretion by rat, rabbit, guinea pig, dog, and hamster testes perfused in vitro: Correlation with Leydig cell mass. Endocrinology 105: 1135–1142, 1979.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Holstein AF, Wartenberg H, Vossmeyer J: Zur Cytologie der pränatalen Gonadenentwicklung beim Menschen. III. Die Entwicklung der Leydigzellen im Hoden von Embryonen und Feten. Z Anat Entwickl-Gesch 135: 43–66, 1971.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Neaves WB: Changes in testicular Leydig cells and in plasma testosterone levels among seasonally breeding rock hyrax. Biol Reprod 8: 451–466, 1973.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Bergh A, Damber J-E: Morphometric and functional investigation on the Leydig cells in experimental unilateral cryptorchism in the rat. Int J Androl 1: 549–562, 1978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Kerr JB, Rich KA, de Kretser DM: Alterations of the fine structure and androgen secretion of the interstitial cells in the experimentally cryptorchid rat testis. Biol Reprod 20: 409–422, 1979.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Zirkin BR, Ewing LL, Kromann N, Cochran RC: Testosterone secretion by rat, rabbit, guinea pig, dog, and hamster testes perfused in vitro: Correlation with Leydig cell ultrastructure. Endocrinology 107: 1867–1874, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Mori H, Christensen AK: Morphometric analysis of Leydig cells in the normal rat testis. J Cell Biol 84: 340–354, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Mori H, Shimizu D, Takeda A, Takioka Y, Fukunishi R: Stereological analysis of Leydig cells in normal guinea pig testis. J Electron Microsc 29: 8–21, 1980.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Mori H, Kadota A, Fukunishi R, Kukita H, Takeuchi N, Matsumoto K: Effects of a cholesterol-rich-diet and a hypolipidemic drug (Clofibrate, CP1B) on Leydig cells in rats. Stereological and biochemical analysis. Andrologia 12: 281–291, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Mori H, Hiromoto N, Nakahara M, Shiraishi T: Stereological analysis of Leydig cell ultrastructure in aged humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 55: 634–641, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kaler LW, Neaves WB: Attrition of the human Leydig cell population with advancing age. Anat Ree 192: 513–518, 1978.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Free MJ, Tillson SA: Secretion rate of testicular steroids in the conscious and halothane-anesthetized rat. Endocrinology 93: 874–879, 1973.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Rohr HP, Bartsch G, Eichenberger P, Rasser Y, Kaiser Ch, Keller M: Ultrastructural morphometric analysis of the unstimulated adrenal cortex of rats. J Ultrastruct Res 54: 11–21, 1976.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Black VH, Russo JJ: Stereological analysis of the guinea pig adrenal: Effects of dexamethasone and ACTH treatment with emphasis on the inner cortex. Am J Anat 159: 85–120, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Morris MD, Chaikoff IL: The origin of cholesterol in liver, small intestine, adrenal gland, and testis of the rat: Dietary versus endogenous contributions. J Biol Chem 234: 1095–1097, 1959.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Werbin H, Chaikoff IL: Utilization of adrenal gland cholesterol for synthesis of Cortisol by the intact normal and the ACTH-treated guinea pig. Arch Biochem Biophys 93: 476–482, 1961.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Sternberg WH: The morphology, androgenic function, hyperplasia, and tumors of the human ovarian hilus cells. Am J Pathol 25: 493–521, 1949.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Scully RE, Cohen RB: Ganglioneuroma of adrenal medulla containing cells morphologically identical to hilus cells (extraparenchymal Leydig cells). Cancer 14: 42M25, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Magalhaes MC: A new crystal-containing cell in human adrenal cortex. J Cell Biol 55: 126–133, 1972.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Peters KH: Die Ultrastruktur heterotoper Leydigzellen beim Menschen. Andrologia 9: 337–348, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Mori H, Shiraishi T, Matsumoto K: Ectopic Leydig cells in seminiferous tubules of an infertile human male with a chromosomal aberration. Andrologia 10: 434–443, 1978.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Schulze C, Holstein A-F: Leydig cells within the lamina propria of seminiferous tubules in four patients with azoospermia. Andrologia 10: 444–452, 1978.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Mori H, Matsumoto K: Constant occurrence of adrenocortical tissue in the juvenile rabbit ovary. Amer J Anat 141: 73–90, 1974.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1984 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Boston, The Hague, Dordrecht, Lancaster

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mori, H. (1984). Ultrastructure and stereological analysis of Leydig cells. In: Motta, P.M. (eds) Ultrastructure of Endocrine Cells and Tissues. Electron Microscopy in Biology and Medicine, vol 1. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3861-1_20

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3861-1_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3863-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3861-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics