Changes in surface area and number of Leydig cells in relation to the 6 stages of the cycle of the human seminiferous epithelium.

ABSTRACT

In order to evaluate the occurrence of a Leydig cell cycle related to the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in man, the numbers of peritubular Leydig cells and surface area of these cells along 1 mm of tubular basement membrane at each stage of the cycle were calculated on histological sections of young adult testes. The Leydig cells that were located separated from the tubules (perivascular Leydig cells) were also classified according to the stage of the cycle shown by the nearest seminiferous tubule; the surface area and number of these cells were also calculated. The total surface area and numbers of Leydig cells (peritubular plus perivascular) along 1 mm of tubular basement membrane did not change during the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. Both the surface area and the numbers of peritubular Leydig cells were greater in stages I and II of the cycle, when spermatozoa are released; they decreased in stages III and IV and increased again in stages V and VI, whereas the contrary occurred in perivascular Leydig cells. The average surface area of each Leydig cell type remained constant throughout the stages of the cycle.