Bismuth uptake in rat testicular macrophages: a follow-up observation suggesting that bismuth alters interactions between testicular macrophages and Leydig cells.
Recent studies suggest that bismuth accumulates in Leydig cells. In addition, a reduced level of serum testosterone and a statistically significant reduction of Leydig cells have been observed. It was therefore hypothesized that Bi has a direct toxic effect on rat Leydig cells. We have now developed a method for double labeling of bismuth and ED-2 (a marker for testicular macrophages). The present data demonstrate that the heavily bismuth-loaded cells in rat testis, originally interpreted as being Leydig cells, are bismuth-loaded macrophages. Consequently, our data suggest a modified hypothesis regarding bismuth-induced interactions between testicular macrophages and Leydig cells.
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. ms@neuro.au.dk
Meredin
M
Stoltenberg
James C
JC
Hutson
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D001729:Bismuth / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology*
D001729:Bismuth