Leydig cell nodular hyperplasia in human biomorphosis.

In 120 left testicles of patients who had died suddenly or in accidents and whose age ranged from 17 to 87 years (average: 53 +/- 18 years) the percent (V%) and total weight of Leydig cells were determined. Then the V% and the total mass Leydig cells were correlated with the values of morphometrically determined structural elements of the gonad and spermatogenic activity of the seminal tubules. It was found that the V% of these cells correlated positively with the V% of tubular membranes and the proportion of hyalinized tubules as well as with the number of tubular cross-sections per test field (a). There was a negative correlation with the testicular weight, the V% of the germinal epithelium and the V% of the testicular stroma. In contrast, total weight of Leydig cells correlated positively only with the testicular weight. The amount of Leydig cells was not associated with age. Based upon the present results it is believed that nodular Leydig cell hyperplasia observed in the atrophic gonad is of relative type.