title: The ultrastructural localization of NADPH-diaphorase enzymatic activity in the Leydig cells of mouse. effects of ethanol administration.
abstract: The effects of the chronic ethanol treatment on the NOS-related NADPH-diaphorase activity were described in the mouse Leydig cells by means of transmission electron microscope. The recovery of the Leydig cells was also examined during a period of four weeks. About 10% of the Leydig cells showed various degrees of morphological alterations, consisting in increased number of lipid droplets, rarefaction and vacuolization of the cytoplasmic matrix. Other groups of Leydig cells (about 10%) revealed evident signs of degeneration. The NADPH-d activity was reduced both in apparently normal and injured Leydig cells and a moderate enzymatic reaction was only detected in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. A week after the treatment an increased number of the degenerating Leydig cells and a further reduction of the enzymatic reaction were observed. Then, the Leydig cells showed a progressive recovery and four weeks after the treatment they exhibited a normal morphology and NADPH-d enzymatic reaction. These results demonstrated for the first time the inhibition of NOS activity in the Leydig cells after chronic ethanol administration.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana e Biologia Applicata, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giannessi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Giambelluca
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruffoli
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D000431:Ethanol; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase