Demonstration of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and testosterone in the Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (androblastoma) tissue of the human ovary: an enzyme histochemical and immunohistochemical study.

Gynecological, endocrinological and histological tests on a 19-year-old female patient led to the diagnosis of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (arrhenoblastoma) of intermediate differentiation. For enzyme histochemical purposes the tumor tissue, removed from the right ovary by laparatomy, was frozen in liquid nitrogen. The following enzymes were demonstrated: nonspecific esterases, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSDH), 17 beta-HSDH, 11 beta-HSDH, and NADH tetrazolium reductase. Cryostat sections, prefixed with formaldehyde vapors, were used to localize testosterone production immunohistochemically with the PAP method. A large number of pseudotubules with Sertoli cells were observed; the Leydig cells in the interstitial space were often arranged in the form of islands. Strong nonspecific esterase activity weak 3 beta-HSDH activity, moderate 17 beta-HSDH activity, and strong 11 beta-HSDH activity were observed largely in the Leydig cells. Testosterone synthesis, demonstrated immunohistochemically, took place predominantly in the Leydig cells, but also to a small extent in the Sertoli cells.