Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity in the Human Fetal and Prepubertal Testis: A Histochemical Study

Abstract

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activity was studied histochemicaljy in the human fetal and prepubertal testis. In keeping with the importance of the hexose phosphate shunt in steroidogenesis, the fetal Leydig cells demonstrated marked activity of G-6-PD. Despite the absence of characteristic Leydig cells in the interstitium of the prepubertal testis, individual spindle cells in the interstitium showed marked activity of G-6-PD. Such cells were prominent not only focally in the interstitium but also in the tunica propria of the immature seminiferous tubules and surrounding nonmedullated nerve fibers in the hilum. It is suggested that these spindle cell forms are metabolically prepared for transition into Leydig cells under hormonal stimulation consistent with the development of puberty.