Testicular Function and Leydig Cell Ultrastructure in Long-Term Bilaterally Cryptorchid Rams1

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of bilateral cryptorchidism induced in adult rams on testicular function and Leydig cell ultrastructure. The results that long-term bilateral cryptorchidism resulted in decreased testicular size, degeneration of seminiferous tubules, elevated serum LH levels, maintenance of normal testosterone concentrations in peripheral and spermatic vein serum, impairment of the magnitude and duration of androgen response to exogenous luteinizing hormone (LH), a 13-fold reduction in total number of Leydig cells/paired testes, and a 3-fold bypertrophy in the average size of remaining Leydig cells. Based on quantitative morphometry, the bypertrphied Leydig cells exhibited significant increases in the volume of intracellular organelles, including the cell nucleus, mitochondria, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, lysosome-like bodies and lipid vesicles. Quantitatively, the hypertrophy alone was not enough to offset the loss in number of Leydig cells and was insufficient to explain the maintenance of normal levels of testosterone in jugular and spermatic veinous blood. The additional mechanisms response for production of normal serum testosterone levels in the cryptorchid ram remain to be elucidated.