title: Ultrastructural changes in mouse Leydig cells after streptozotocin administration.
abstract: Male ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose (100 mg/kg BW) of streptozotocin (STZ). The pancreas and testis were excised at 1, 2 or 4 weeks after STZ administration and observed by light and electron microscopy. At 2 weeks after injection (p.i.), the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas showed severe atrophy, indicating a diabetic state. In the testis, although no conspicuous morphological changes were detected at 2 weeks p.i., noticeable changes had occurred in the Leydig cells at 4 weeks p.i. In the cells, lipid droplets increased in number, whereas smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER) decreased. Giant whorl-like sER appeared frequently at this time. These findings indicate the declined secretory activity of Leydig cells in STZ diabetic mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sanguinetti
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurohmaru
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D013311:Streptozocin