Effect of seasonal changes in Leydig cell number on the volume of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in Leydig cells and intratesticular testosterone content in stallions.
Abstract: Testes from 47 adult (4-20 years) stallions obtained in November-January (non-breeding season) and 41 adult stallions obtained in May-July (breeding season) were perfused with glutaraldehyde, placed in osmium and embedded in Epon 812. Percentage Leydig cell cytoplasm or nuclei in the testis was determined by point counting of 0.5 micron sections under bright-field microscopy. Testes from 6 randomly selected horses per season were processed for electron microscopy. The volume (ml) of SER/testis was calculated from the % SER in the cytoplasm % Leydig cell cytoplasm, and parenchymal volume. Number of Leydig cells was calculated from the % nuclei, parenchymal volume, histological correction factor, and volume of single nucleus. Intratesticular testosterone content was determined from the contralateral testis by radioimmunoassay. The volume of SER/g and testosterone/g tended to be higher in the breeding than non-breeding season. Leydig cell number/g, volume of SER/testis, testosterone/testis, and Leydig cell number/testis were significantly greater in the breeding than in the non-breeding season. Volume of SER/testis and testosterone/testis were related significantly to the cell number/testis, and SER/testis was related (P less than 0.05) to testosterone/testis. These results emphasize the importance of seasonal changes in the number of Leydig cells on the amount of SER available to produce testosterone and on testosterone content/testis in the stallion.
Publication Date: 1987-09-01 PubMed ID: 3668953DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.0810227Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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This research examined how changes in the number of Leydig cells, cells in the testes responsible for testosterone production, during different seasons affect the testosterone levels in stallions. The researchers found that the number of Leydig cells and the production of testosterone were higher during the breeding than the non-breeding season.
Methodology
- The study was conducted on the testes from 47 adult stallions obtained in the non-breeding season (November-January) and 41 adult stallions obtained in the breeding season (May-July).
- These testes were treated with glutaraldehyde, placed in osmium, and embedded in Epon 812.
- The percentage of Leydig cell cytoplasm or nuclei in the testis was determined by point counting of 0.5 micron sections under bright-field microscopy.
- The testes from 6 randomly selected horses per season were processed for electron microscopy.
- The researchers calculated the volume (ml) of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER, an organelle involved in the production of hormones) per testis from multiple parameters.
- The number of Leydig cells was also calculated.
- The testosterone content was determined from the contralateral testis by radioimmunoassay, a method that uses antibodies to measure hormones in the blood.
Findings
- The researchers found that the volume of SER/g and testosterone/g were higher during the breeding than non-breeding season.
- The number of Leydig cells per gram, the volume of SER per testis, the amount of testosterone per testis, and the number of Leydig cells per testis were all significantly greater in the breeding than in the non-breeding season.
- The researchers also found a significant relationship between the volume of SER/testis and testosterone/testis with the cell number/testis, and between the SER/testis and testosterone/testis.
Conclusion
- The findings underscore the importance of seasonal changes in the number of Leydig cells on the amount of SER available to produce testosterone and on testosterone content/testis in the stallion.
Cite This Article
APA
Johnson L, Thompson DL.
(1987).
Effect of seasonal changes in Leydig cell number on the volume of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in Leydig cells and intratesticular testosterone content in stallions.
J Reprod Fertil, 81(1), 227-232.
https://doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.0810227 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center, Dallas 75235.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cell Count
- Endoplasmic Reticulum / ultrastructure
- Horses / physiology
- Leydig Cells / cytology
- Leydig Cells / ultrastructure
- Male
- Seasons
- Testis / analysis
- Testosterone / analysis
Grant Funding
- HD 16773 / NICHD NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Kandeel M, Al-Taher A, Venugopala KN, Marzok M, Morsy M, Nagaraja S. Camel Proteins and Enzymes: A Growing Resource for Functional Evolution and Environmental Adaptation. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:911511.
- Sidhom K, Panchendrabose K, Mann U, Patel P. An update on male infertility and intratesticular testosterone-insight into novel serum biomarkers. Int J Impot Res 2022 Nov;34(7):673-678.
- El-Khaldi AT, Homeida AM. Effects of androgens and rutting season on drug metabolizing enzymes in dromedary camels. Anim Reprod 2020 May 20;17(2):e20190119.
- Toishi Y, Tsunoda N, Nagata SI, Kirisawa R, Nagaoka K, Watanabe G, Yanagawa Y, Katagiri S, Taya K. Evaluation of the chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay system for the measurement of testosterone in the serum and whole blood of stallions. J Reprod Dev 2018 Feb 27;64(1):41-47.
- Meng Y, Zhang W, Zhou J, Liu M, Chen J, Tian S, Zhuo M, Zhang Y, Zhong Y, Du H, Wang X. Genome-wide analysis of positively selected genes in seasonal and non-seasonal breeding species. PLoS One 2015;10(5):e0126736.
- Dhakal P, Tsunoda N, Nakai R, Kitaura T, Harada T, Ito M, Nagaoka K, Toishi Y, Taniyama H, Gen W, Taya K. Annual Changes in Day-length, Temperature, and Circulating Reproductive Hormones in Thoroughbred Stallions and Geldings. J Equine Sci 2011;22(2):29-36.
- El-Harairy MA, Attia KA. Effect of age, pubertal stage and season on testosterone concentration in male dromedary camel. Saudi J Biol Sci 2010 Jul;17(3):227-30.
- Costa GM, Avelar GF, Rezende-Neto JV, Campos-Junior PH, Lacerda SM, Andrade BS, Thomé RG, Hofmann MC, Franca LR. Spermatogonial stem cell markers and niche in equids. PLoS One 2012;7(8):e44091.
- Jana K, Samanta PK. Clinical evaluation of non-surgical sterilization of male cats with single intra-testicular injection of calcium chloride. BMC Vet Res 2011 Jul 21;7:39.
- Jana K, Samanta PK, Ghosh D. Dose-dependent response to an intratesticular injection of calcium chloride for induction of chemosterilization in adult albino rats. Vet Res Commun 2002 Dec;26(8):651-73.
- Doghbri L, Carvajal-Serna M, Atigui M, Casao A, Peña-Delgado V, Seddik MM, Dbara M, Pérez-Pé R, Hammadi M. Melatonin in Male Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Seminal Plasma and Its Specific MT1 and MT2 Receptors on Sperm Membranes. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 2;15(1).
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