Quantitation of Leydig cell in testicular biopsies of gossypol treated rats

Abstract EN

Leydig cell density was evaluated quantitatively in bilateral testicular biopsies from twenty male rats of two equal groups Gossypol treated and control.

The method utilized for this quantitation is based on the determination of total number of Leydig cells, Leydig cell clusters and seminiferous tubules in the entire histological section of each biopsy and the calculation of the following indices: mean Leydig cells per seminiferous tubule, mean Leydig cell clusters per seminiferous tubule and mean Leydig cells per cluster.

A significant positive correlation between Leydig cells per tubule and Leydig cell clusters per tubule was demonstrated.

The results of indices curve showed shifted all the curves to the right in Gossypol treated group, a significant reduction in plasma testosterone levels of Gossypol treatment group as compared to control group which is due to decrease in Leydig cells number, suggesting that determination of Leydig cell clusters per seminiferous tubule in testicular biopsies is an objective and clinically applicable method for quantitative evaluation of Leydig cell density and indirectly evaluated the secretary activity of the testicular Leydig cells.

The results are attributed to the direct effect of Gossypol on secretary site of testosterone in Leydig cells or presumably indirect disturbance of hypothalamic–pituitary gland–Leydig cells axis.

An Association of Gossypol treatment with Leydig cell hypo-function and decrease number of cells was noticed for the male rat testosterone level.

To our knowledge this is the first report of quantitative analysis of Leydig cell density in rat with Gossypol treatment and it is suitable for clinical evaluation of testicular dysfunction.