title: Leydig cell hyperplasia in an ENU-induced mutant mouse with germ cell depletion.
abstract: Repro22 is an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced mutation in mice showing depletion of both male and female germ cells. In the present study, we investigated the male phenotypes of the mutant mouse at the adult stage. The repro22/repro22 homozygous mice showed reduced body weights as well as markedly reduced testis weights. Histological examination of the testes at 4 and 10 months of age showed no germ cells in the seminiferous tubules of the affected testis while a number of Sertoli cells were observed in the tubules. In addition to the germ cell depletion, the testes of the affected mouse contained expanded intertubular spaces that were filled by Leydig cell-like interstitial cells. These interstitial cells were confirmed to be Leydig cells by immunohistochmical staining using anti-3beta-HSD antibody. The estimated number of Leydig cells in the affected testes at 10 months of age increased approximately 2 fold compared with those of normal testes. Furthermore, the plasma testosterone levels of the affected mice at 10 months of age were significantly higher than those of the normal mice. These findings indicated that the repro22/repro22 mouse developed hyperplasia of Leydig cells that was presumably caused by the absence of germ cells in the seminiferous tubules.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalaj
authors.forename: Abdol Rahim
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Kouyou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Takehito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunieda
mesh_terms: D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea / Q000633:toxicity; D006720:Homozygote; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D010641:Phenotype; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea