Decreased number and size and the defective function of testicular macrophages in long-term hypophysectomized rats are reversed by treatment with human gonadotrophins.
Macrophages are a common cell type in the testicular interstitium of the rat and are morphologically and functionally related to Leydig cells. We investigated the number of macrophages and Leydig cells in long-term (24 weeks) hypophysectomized (LTHX) or sham-operated rats. LTHX rats showed a 76% decrease in the number of macrophages, whereas the number of Leydig cells was only slightly decreased (by 18%). The profile areas of both macrophages and Leydig cells were very much decreased (46% and 66% respectively). Sham-operated and LTHX rats were treated with vehicle or human FSH and LH (hFSH/hLH; 75 IU/kg body weight per day) for 1 week. This treatment induced a 286% increase in the number of macrophages and a 32% increase in the number of Leydig cells in LTHX rats. The profile areas of macrophages and Leydig cells were also increased (212% and 184% respectively). About 80% of macrophages showed vacuolization of the cytoplasm. Gonadotrophin treatment did not induce changes in cell numbers in sham-operated animals but about 30% of macrophages showed large cytoplasmic vacuoles. Vehicle- or hormone-treated LTHX rats were given a single injection of ethylene dimethane sulphonate (EDS) and killed 72 h later. Leydig cells were absent from the testicular interstitium of sham-operated rats but there were large numbers of dead Leydig cells (about 40% of the pre-existing population) in the testicular interstitium of LTHX rats 3 days after EDS treatment. Complete clearance of the testicular interstitium from EDS-killed Leydig cells was found in LTHX rats treated with hFSH/hLH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Gaytan
F
F
Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Cordoba, Spain.
Bellido
C
C
Romero
J L
JL
Morales
C
C
Reymundo
C
C
Aguilar
E
E
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin