Ultrastructure of Leydig cells in human ageing testes.
Ultrastructural study of Leydig cells in elderly men revealed the following Leydig cell types: (1) ultrastructurally normal Leydig cells (46.2%); (2) Leydig cells either with multiple cytoplasmic or intranuclear Reinke crystals or with numerous para-crystalline inclusions (6.1%); (3) multivacuolated Leydig cells with the cytoplasm almost filled by lipid droplets (16.7%; (4) dedifferentiated Leydig cells with poor development of agranular endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and increased amounts of lipofuscin granules (22.3%); and (5) bi- or trinucleate Leydig cells (8.7%) showing either a normal (2.8%) or dedifferentiated (5.9%) cytoplasm. These results suggest an involution of Leydig cells with advancing age. A correlation between the proportion of altered Leydig cells and the decrease in testosterone and increase in luteinising hormone levels could be observed.
Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, University of Salamanca, Spain.
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R
Paniagua
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P
Amat
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M
Nistal
A
A
Martin
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D006801:Humans; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013737:Testis / Q000648:ultrastructure