Changes in testicular leydig cells and in plasma testosterone levels among seasonally breeding rock hyrax.
Changes in testicular leydig cells and in plasma testosterone levels among seasonally breeding rock hyrax.
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DOI：
10.1093/biolreprod/8.4.451
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发表时间：
1973-05
影响因子：
3.6
通讯作者：
W. Neaves
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
W. Neaves
研究人员对 41 只成年雄性岩蹄兔 (Procavia habessinica) 血浆睾酮水平和各种睾丸参数的季节性变化进行了研究。在每年繁殖季节收集的动物中，睾丸重量和血浆睾酮水平大约是繁殖季节外收集的动物的五倍。光学显微镜测量表明，睾丸重量的增加主要是由于曲细精管的增大。组织学取样技术表明间质细胞数量没有显着变化。繁殖季节间质细胞大小增加，平均间质细胞体积与血浆睾酮水平呈显着正相关。通过电子显微镜，可以看到间质细胞肥大涉及几种细胞质成分的数量和结构的变化。随着细胞尺寸的增大，脂滴消失，光滑内质网（SER）急剧扩散。与非繁殖动物中所见的不规则管状和池状 SER 的稀疏和异质组合相反，繁殖动物中大量的 SER 表现为相对直的、直径均匀的无分支小管。血浆睾酮水平高的动物的 Leydig 细胞外周富含特殊的膜结构，可能源自 SER。这些发现表明，季节性繁殖蹄兔的血浆睾酮水平与间质细胞精细结构之间存在明确的关系。
Seasonal changes in plasma testosterone levels and in various testicular parameters were studied in 41 adult male rock hyrax (Procavia habessinica). Among animals collected during the annual breeding season, testis weights and plasma testosterone levels were approximately five times greater than among animals collected outside the breeding season. Light microscopic measurements showed that increase in testis weight was largely due to enlargement of the seminiferous tubules. Histological sampling techniques indicated no significant change in Leydig cell numbers. Leydig cell size increased during the breeding season, and average Leydig cell volume showed significantly positive correlation with plasma testosterone level. With the electron microscope, Leydig cell hypertrophy was seen to involve changes in quantity and structure of several cytoplasmic constituents. Lipid droplets disappeared and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) spread dramatically as the cells increased in size. In contrast to the sparse and heterogeneous assemblage of irregularly tubular and cisternal SER seen in nonbreeding animals, the extensive masses of SER in breeding animals appeared as relatively straight, unbranched tubules of uniform diameter. Peculiar membranous structures, possibly derived from the SER, were abundant in the periphery of Leydig cells from animals with high plasma testosterone levels. These findings suggest that there is a definite relationship between plasma testosterone levels and Leydig cell fine structure in seasonally breeding hyrax.