Alterations of the Fine Structure and Androgen Secretion of the Interstitial Cells in the Experimentally Cryptorchid Rat Testis
The ultrastructural features of the intertubular tissue of the adult rat testis have been studied following the induction of cryptorchidism by surgical translocation of the testes into the abdominal cavity. The principles of stereology were used to assess the changes in the cytological features of t...
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Published in | Biology of reproduction Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 409 - 422 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
Society for the Study of Reproduction
01.04.1979
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The ultrastructural features of the intertubular tissue of the adult rat testis have been studied
following the induction of cryptorchidism by surgical translocation of the testes into the abdominal cavity. The principles
of stereology were used to assess the changes in the cytological features
of the Leydig cells that occur 4 weeks after inducing cryptorchidism. Following the induction of
cryptorchidism the principal changes observed were the hypertrophy of the Leydig cells with
respect to cellular size and the increased quantities of Leydig cell organelles, particularly the
mitochondria, Golgi membranes and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Despite the increase in
organelles associated with steroid biosynthesis, serum testosterone levels of cryptorchid animals
were either significantly lower or remained unchanged from normal control values, although serum
LH levels were consistently elevated following induction of cryptorchidism. Furthermore, stimulation of the cryptorchid testis
with hCG resulted in a subnormal increase in serum testosterone
levels. The cytological changes in the Leydig cells are suggestive of increased steroid secretion and
the normal or lowered levels of testosterone in the peripheral circulation of cryptorchid rats
indicate the possibility of a biosynthetic block of testosterone production or alternatively the
conversion of testosterone to other metabolites by the seminiferous tubule compartment. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0006-3363 1529-7268 |
DOI: | 10.1095/biolreprod20.3.409 |