Aim: To induce rat model of hyperlipidemia through high fat diet feeding, exploring the effect of abnormal lipid metabolism in rat leydig cell testosterone biosynthesis and proliferation. Methods: 30 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group (NG) and the obese group (OG). Rats in NG were fed with basic diet, while rats in OG were continuously fed with high fat diet for 16 wee...

This study investigated the effect of annexin V on the proliferation of primary rat Leydig cells and the potential mechanism. Our results showed that annexin V promoted rat Leydig cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Increased level of annexin V also enhanced Ect2 protein expression. However, siRNA knockdown of Ect2 attenuated annexin V-induced pro...

Leydig cell tumors represent 3% of testicular masses and usually occur in prepubertal boys and men between 30 and 60 years of age. Leydig cell tumors are benign in children but can be malignant in 10% of adults. This case report describes a 41-year-old patient who was diagnosed with a Leydig cell tumor that originated in his right testicle that subsequently metastasized to his liver, lungs, and...

Cordycepin is a natural pure compound extracted from Cordyceps sinensis (CS). We have demonstrated that CS stimulates steroidogenesis in primary mouse Leydig cell and activates apoptosis in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. It is highly possible that cordycepin is the main component in CS modulating Leydig cell functions. Thus, our aim was to investigate the steroidogenic and apoptotic effects wi...

Sertoli leydig cell tumors are exceedingly uncommon tumors of the ovary accounting for less than 0.5% of all ovarian neoplasms and 1% of sex cord tumors. These tumors are functional and secrete testosterone and only rarely they are estrogenic. Hence the patients present with virilization features. Most of the tumors are unilateral and bilaterality is extremely rare. Here we report an unusual ca...

The effects of ovine interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH), ovine prolactin, or bovine growth hormone (BGH) on the growth and fine structure of transplantable Leydig cell tumors have been investigated. The Leydig cell tumor was capable of growth in the hypophysectomized mouse as well as in the intact mouse treated with rabbit antisera to ICSH. The ultrastructure of the Leydig cell was al...

Although previous studies have shown that stem cells can be differentiated into Leydig cells by gene transfection, a simple, safe and effective induction method has not yet been reported. Therefore, the present study investigated novel methods for the induction of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HUMSC) differentiation into Leydig-like, steroidogenic cells. HUMSCs were acquired using...

The objective of the present study is to determine whether methoxychlor (MXC) exposure in adulthood affects rat Leydig cell regeneration and to compare its effects with estradiol (E2). Adult 90-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats received ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS) to eliminate the adult Leydig cell population. Subsequently, rats were randomly assigned to four groups and gavaged with corn oi...

Leydig cells have been implicated in several inflammation-related responses of the testis. Specifically, these cells produce the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6, stimulate macrophage recruitment, and promote interstitial fluid formation. In addition, the immunoregulatory cytokines macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1), ...

This study investigates the relationship between the high density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor (scavenger receptors, SR-BI and SR-BII), selective lipoprotein-cholesteryl ester uptake, and testosterone production in Leydig cells of control, hypocholesterolemic and gonadotrophic hormone (hCG) treated rats. Leydig cells from mature control rats show poor efficiency in incorporation of labeled HDL-ch...