Plasma and testicular testosterone levels, volume density and number of Leydig cells and spermatogenic efficiency of rabbits
Braz. j. med. biol. res
;
35(4): 493-498, Apr. 2002. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-309205
RESUMO
Plasma and tissue testosterone concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay in 12 eight-month-old sexually mature New Zealand White rabbits and evaluated for possible associations with spermatogenic efficiency as well as with volume density and number of Leydig cells. Testicular tissue was processed histologically and histometry was performed in order to quantify germ cells, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. Spermatogenic efficiency, reported as the ratios among germ cells (spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes and round spermatids) and by the ratio of germ cells to Sertoli cells, was not associated with testosterone levels. However, Leydig cell parameters such as number of Leydig cells per gram of testis, total number of Leydig cells per testis and percent cell volume of Leydig cell nuclei were correlated significantly with testosterone levels. The statistically significant correlation (r = 0.82, P<0.05) observed between testosterone levels and the number of Leydig cells per gram of testis suggests that, in the rabbit, the latter parameter can serve as a criterion for monitoring testosterone levels in this species under normal conditions
Full text:
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Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Spermatogenesis
/
Testis
/
Testosterone
/
Radioimmunoassay
/
Leydig Cells
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. j. med. biol. res
Journal subject:
Biology
/
Medicine
Year:
2002
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
/
United States
Institution/Affiliation country:
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais/BR
/
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais/BR
/
University of New Hampshire/US
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