Leydig cells are the primary source of androgens in the mammalian testis. It is established that the luteinizing hormone (LH) produced by the anterior pituitary is required to maintain the structure and function of the Leydig cells in the postnatal testis. Until recent years, a role by the thyroid hormones on Leydig cells was not documented. It is evident now that thyroid hormones perform many ...

Objective(s): The aim of this study was to explore the effects of Squid ink polysaccharide (SIP) on prevention of autophagy and oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) in Leydig cells of mice. Materials and Methods: Examination of reproductive organ exponents, abnormal sperm rate, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), and histolog...

We Describe a case of ovarian serous cystadenoma having Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, well differentiated, in the cystic septum. Well differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor coexisting with other tumor, including serous tumor, has not yet been described. In all cases of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor with heterologous components or other tumors, the androblastomatous components are intermediately or p...

During testis development, fetal Leydig cells increase their population from a pool of progenitor cells rather than from proliferation of a differentiated cell population. However, the mechanism that regulates Leydig stem cell self-renewal and differentiation is unknown. Here, we show that blocking Notch signaling, by inhibiting gamma-secretase activity or deleting the downstream target gene Ha...

Background: Tributyltin (TBT) is widely used as an antifouling agent that may cause reproductive toxicity. The mechanism of TBT on Leydig cell development is still unknown. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether a brief exposure to low doses of TBT permanently affects Leydig cell development and to clarify the underlying mechanism. Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats ...

Establishment of the steroid-producing Leydig cell lineage is an event downstream of Sry that is critical for masculinization of mammalian embryos. Neither the origin of fetal Leydig cell precursors nor the signaling pathway that specifies the Leydig cell lineage is known. Based on the sex-specific expression patterns of Desert Hedgehog (Dhh) and its receptor Patched 1 (Ptch1) in XY gonads, we ...

A review of the literature indicates that some compounds which produce hepatic peroxisome proliferation in rats also appear to produce Leydig cell adenomas, and some also affect the serum concentrations of testosterone and estradiol. Previous studies with the peroxisome proliferator ammonium perfluorooctanoate showed a direct effect on Leydig cells to alter steroidogenesis. It was therefore pro...

Leydig cell tumors are usually benign tumors of the male gonad. However, if the tumor is malignant, no effective treatments are currently available. Leydig cell tumors express platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), kit ligand and their respective receptors, PDGFR and c-kit. We therefore evaluated the effects of imatinib mesylate (imatinib), a selective inhibitor of the c-kit and PDGFR tyrosine ...

The investigation was conducted to elucidate seasonal histomorphological changes of Leydig cells in Japanese Jungle crows (Corvus macrorhynchos). All adult crows (n=12) were killed for H&E staining. Histologic data of Leydig cells regarding their locations in the interstitium, appearance and disappearance of lipoidal materials in their cytoplasm, precursor cells and fibroblasts are studied. In ...

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of androgens and nonandrogenic Leydig cell products in maintaining Leydig cell and macrophage numbers in the testis of the adult rat. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received Silastic implants containing testosterone and estradiol (T-E) in order to suppress endogenous luteinizing hormone (LH) for 9 weeks. After T-E treatment, Leydig cell an...