Changes in the Testis Interstitium of Sprague Dawley Rats from Birth to Sexual Maturity

Changes in the rat testis interstitium from birth to adulthood were studied using Sprague Dawley rats of 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 40, 60, and 90 days of age. Our objectives were 1) to understand the fate of the fetal Leydig cells (FLC) in the postnatal rat testis, 2) to determine the volume changes in test...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biology of reproduction 2000-03, Vol.62 (3), p.680-690
Main Authors: H.B. Siril Ariyaratne, S.M.L. Chamindrani Mendis-Handagama
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
Androstenedione - metabolism
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Differentiation
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - metabolism
Immunohistochemistry
Leydig Cells - physiology
Macrophages
Male
Mammalian male genital system
Mesoderm
Morphology. Physiology
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Seminiferous Epithelium - growth & development
Sexual Maturation - physiology
Testis - cytology
Testis - growth & development
Testosterone - metabolism
Vertebrates: reproduction
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Summary:Changes in the rat testis interstitium from birth to adulthood were studied using Sprague Dawley rats of 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 40, 60, and 90 days of age. Our objectives were 1) to understand the fate of the fetal Leydig cells (FLC) in the postnatal rat testis, 2) to determine the volume changes in testicular interstitial components and testicular steroidogenic capacity in vitro with age, 3) to differentially quantify FLC, adult Leydig cells (ALC), and different connective tissue cell types by number and average volume, and 4) to investigate the relationship between mesenchymal and ALC numbers during testicular development. FLC were present in rat testes from birth to 90 days, and they were the only steroidogenic cells in the testis interstitium at Days 1 and 7. Except for FLC, all other interstitial cell numbers and volumes increased from birth to 90 days. The average volume of an FLC and the absolute volume of FLC per testis were similar at all ages except at Day 21, when lower values were observed for both parameters. FLC number per testis remained constant from birth through 90 days. The observations suggested that the significance of FLC in the neonatal-prepubertal rat testis is to produce testosterone to activate the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-testicular axis for the continued development of the male reproductive system. ALC were the abundant Leydig cell type by number and absolute volume per testis from Day 14 onwards. The absolute numbers of ALC and mesenchymal cells per testis increased linearly from birth to 90 days, with a slope ratio of 2:1, respectively, indicating that the rate of production of Leydig cells is 2-fold greater than that of mesenchymal cells in the postnatal rat testis through 90 days. In addition, this study showed that the mesenchymal cells are an active cell population during testis development and that their numbers do not decrease but increase with Leydig cell differentiation and testicular growth up to sexual maturity (90 days).
ISSN:0006-3363
1529-7268
DOI:10.1095/biolreprod62.3.680