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 ...

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 ...

Leydig cell number and function decline as men age, and low testosterone is associated with all "Western" cardio-metabolic disorders. However, whether perturbed androgen action within the adult Leydig cell lineage predisposes individuals to this late-onset degeneration remains unknown. To address this, we generated a novel mouse model in which androgen receptor (AR) is ablated from ∼75% of adul...

The aim of this study is to examine the influence of Sertoli cells on LH binding to Leydig cells in culture in immature mice. Leydig cells and Sertoli cells were obtained from the testes of immature C57BL/6Ncrj mice and were cultured in serum-free medium for 7 days. The LH binding to Leydig cells and the FSH binding to Sertoli cells were dependent on incubation time, the number of cells, and th...

Progenitor Leydig cells are derived from stem cells. The proliferation and differentiation of progenitor Leydig cells significantly contributes to Leydig cell number during puberty. However, the regulation of these processes remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to determine whether luteinizing hormone (LH) or androgen contributes to the proliferation and differentiation of pr...

Development of the testis begins with the expression of the SRY gene in pre-Sertoli cells. Soon after, testis cords containing Sertoli and germ cells are formed and fetal Leydig cells subsequently develop in the interstitial space. Studies using knockout mice have indicated that multiple genes encoding growth factors and transcription factors are implicated in fetal Leydig cell differentiation....

Aging in Brown Norway rats is associated with reduced Leydig cell T production. To address the mechanism by which aging Leydig cells become steroidogenically hypofunctional, Leydig cells from young and old rat testes were isolated and cultured long-term with LH. Leydig cells isolated from young rats that had received LH-suppressive T implants served as positive controls. The ability of young co...

By means of immunocytochemical methods, immunoreactivity for the brain isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS-I) was recognized in numerous Leydig cells of the human testis as well as in MA-10 tumor and TM3 non-tumor mouse Leydig cell lines. Within the Leydig cell cytoplasm, immunocytochemical results suggested the occurrence of factors known to activate NOS-I such as glutamate and aspartate, as...

AIM To investigate the activation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and its function in the corticosterone (CORT)-induced apoptosis of rat Leydig cells. METHODS NFAT in rat Leydig cells was detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Cyclosporin A (CsA) was used to evaluate potential involvement of NFAT in the CORT-induced apoptosis of Leydig cells. Intracel...

During mammalian testis development distinct generations of fetal and adult Leydig cells arise. Luteinising hormone (LH) is required for normal adult Leydig cell function and for the establishment of normal adult Leydig cell number but its role in the process of adult Leydig cell differentiation has remained uncertain. In this study we have examined adult Leydig cell differentiation in gonadotr...