The aim of this study was to examine morphometric data of Leydig cells of 10 male chinchillas. Testes, cut into 5-microm thick sections, were stained using the p.a.S. and Masson's methods. Some 3800 Leydig cells have been evaluated. Their dimensions, as well as the diameters of their nuclei and the distances of the nuclei from the boundaries of the cells, have been measured. The areas of the su...

BACKGROUND The initial steps of stem Leydig cell differentiation into steroid producing progenitor cells are thought to take place independent of luteinizing hormone (LH), under the influence of locally produced factors such as leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), platelet derived growth factor A and stem cell factor. For the formation of a normal sized Leydig cell population in the adult testis,...

The aim of this study was to establish a novel method for isolating and purifying Leydig cells from mice testes. Testes of postpuberal mice were harvested and digested in a low concentration of collagenase NB4 for 15 min 2 times. Cells obtained were cultured in low glucose DMEM with 10% FBS. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of Leydig cell biomarkers including 3β-hydroxystero...

Testosterone replacement therapy has benefits for aging men and those with hypogonadism. However, the effects of exogenous testosterone on Leydig cells are still unclear and need to be clarified. In this report, we demonstrate that testosterone supplementation can reduce oxidative damage in Leydig cells. The TM3 Leydig cell line was used as an in vitro cell model in this study. Cytoprotective e...

Intracellular cAMP and Ca(2+) are involved in the regulation of steroidogenic activity in Leydig cells, which coordinate responses to luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). However, the identification of Ca(2+) entry implicated in Leydig cell steroidogenesis is not well defined. The objective of this study was to identify the type of Ca(2+) channel that affects Leydig ...

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether nicotine-induced testicular toxicity involves the induction of apoptosis in Leydig cells. DESIGN Cell study using cells of the TM3 cell line derived from mouse Leydig cells. SETTING Academic research laboratory. INTERVENTION(S) Morphological and biochemical analyses for the detection of apoptosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The effect of nicotine on the occ...

Background: Hyperprolactinemia is a particular concern in the treatment of schizophrenic patients. The side effects associated with high prolactin levels can have a negative impact on GnRH pulsatile secretion and, consequently LH, FSH and testosterone pulsatility and follows by, on special testicular cells that have these hormon’s receptors such as sertoli and leydig cells. Quantification the d...