title: A quantitative morphological study of human Leydig cells from birth to adulthood.
abstract: Human testicular specimens were obtained from biopsies and autopsies covering the period from birth to adulthood. The number of testosterone-containing Leydig cells was determined using the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase method. This number decreased markedly from 3-6 months of age to the end of the first year of life and, up to 6 years of age, only a small number of testosterone-containing cells was found. From 6 years onwards the number of Leydig cells progressively increased. Ultrastructural examination revealed four types of Leydig cells: fetal-type Leydig cells (from birth to 1 year of age) with round nuclei, abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria with tubular cristae; infantile-type Leydig cells (from birth to 8-10 years of age), showing a multilobated nucleus, moderately abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, some lipid droplets and mitochondria with parallel cristae; prepubertal, partially differentiated Leydig cells (from 6 years of age onwards) with regularly-outlined round nuclei, abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria with tubular cristae, and some lipid droplets and lipofuscin granules; and mature adult Leydig cells (from 8-10 years of age onwards). The ultrastructure of the infantile-type Leydig cells and the lack of delay between the disappearance of the fetal-type Leydig cells and the appearance of infantile-type Leydig cells suggest that fetal-type Leydig cells give rise to the infantile-type Leydig cells. Before puberty, myofibroblast-like precursor cells differentiate into the prepubertal, partially differentiated Leydig cells, which complete their differentiation into the adult Leydig cells.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D002452:Cell Count; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron