Mendis-Handagama S M, Zirkin B R, Ewing L L
Department of Population Dynamics, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
Am J Anat. 1988 Jan;181(1):12-22. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001810103.
Components of the testis and cytoplasmic organelles in Leydig cells were quantified with morphometric techniques in hamster, rat, and guinea pig. Testosterone secretory capacity per gram of testis and per Leydig cell in response to luteinizing hormone (LH) (100 ng/ml) stimulation was determined in these three species from testes perfused in vitro. Numerous correlations were measured among structures, and between structures and testosterone secretion, to provide structural evidence of intratesticular control of Leydig cell function. Testosterone secretion per gm testis and per Leydig cell was significantly different in the three species: highest in the guinea pig, intermediate in the rat, and lowest in the hamster. The volume of seminiferous tubules per gm testis was negatively correlated, and the volumes of interstitium, Leydig cells, and lymphatic space per gm testis were positively correlated with testosterone secretion. No correlations were observed between volumes of blood vessels, elongated spindleshaped cells, or macrophages per gm testes and testosterone secretion. The average volume of a Leydig cell and the volume and surface area of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) and peroxisomes per Leydig cell were positively correlated, and the volume of lysosomes and surface area of inner mitochondrial membrane per Leydig cell were negatively correlated with testosterone secretion. No correlations were observed between volume and surface area of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), Golgi apparatus, and lipid, and volume of ribosomes, cytoplasmic matrix, and the nucleus with testosterone secretion per Leydig cell. These results suggest that Leydig cell size is more important than number of Leydig cells in explaining the difference in testosterone-secreting capacity among the three species, and that this increase in average volume of a Leydig cell is associated specifically with increased volume and surface area of SER and peroxisomes. An important unresolved question is what is the role of peroxisomes in Leydig cell steroidogenesis.
运用形态测量技术对仓鼠、大鼠和豚鼠睾丸的组成成分以及睾丸间质细胞中的细胞质细胞器进行了定量分析。通过对这三个物种的睾丸进行体外灌注，测定了每克睾丸组织以及每个睾丸间质细胞在促黄体生成素（LH，100 ng/ml）刺激下的睾酮分泌能力。对各种结构之间以及结构与睾酮分泌之间进行了大量相关性测定，以提供睾丸内对睾丸间质细胞功能控制的结构证据。每克睾丸组织和每个睾丸间质细胞的睾酮分泌量在这三个物种中存在显著差异：豚鼠最高，大鼠次之，仓鼠最低。每克睾丸组织中曲细精管的体积呈负相关，而每克睾丸组织中的间质、睾丸间质细胞和淋巴间隙的体积与睾酮分泌呈正相关。每克睾丸组织中血管、细长梭形细胞或巨噬细胞的体积与睾酮分泌之间未观察到相关性。每个睾丸间质细胞的平均体积以及每个睾丸间质细胞中滑面内质网（SER）和过氧化物酶体的体积与表面积呈正相关，而每个睾丸间质细胞中溶酶体的体积和线粒体内膜的表面积与睾酮分泌呈负相关。每个睾丸间质细胞中粗面内质网（RER）、高尔基体和脂质的体积与表面积，以及核糖体、细胞质基质和细胞核的体积与睾酮分泌之间未观察到相关性。这些结果表明，在解释这三个物种睾酮分泌能力差异方面，睾丸间质细胞的大小比其数量更为重要，并且睾丸间质细胞平均体积的增加与SER和过氧化物酶体体积及表面积的增加密切相关。一个重要的未解决问题是过氧化物酶体在睾丸间质细胞类固醇生成中的作用是什么。
