Effect of ageing on the volume, structure and total Leydig cell content of the human testis.

INTRODUCTION Histopathological examination of the testes was carried out after open biopsy in healthy, fertile males of two different age groups one young (30-40 years) and the other old (55-65 years). The testicular volume and the total Leydig cell content of the testis was also quantitatively estimated in both. It has been found that ageing leads to a thickening of the tunica propria, inter-tubular fibrosis and progressive hyalinisation and atrophy of some of the tubules. Most of the tubules, however, remain normal with signs of active spermatogenesis. The Leydig cells become more numerous and in 2 cases they had grown into abnormally large clusters. There was no significant difference in the volume of the testes in the young and old subjects, the mean being 13.3 ± 6.0 ml for the whole sample. The total Leydig cell volume showed a significant and interesting increase with age, rising from 2.2 ± 0.5 ml / testis in the young 2.9 ± 0.9 ml / testis in the old.