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Leydig cell

May 03, 2024

Leydig cells, also known as interstitial cells of the testes and interstitial cells of Leydig, are found adjacent to the seminiferous tubules in the testicle and produce testosterone in the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH).[1][2] They are polyhedral in shape and have a large, prominent nucleus, an eosinophilic cytoplasm, and numerous lipid-filled vesicles.[3]

Leydig cell
Micrograph showing a cluster of Leydig cells (center of image). H&E stain.
Histological section through testicular parenchyma of a boar. 1 Lumen of convoluted part of the seminiferous tubules, 2 spermatids, 3 spermatocytes, 4 spermatogonia, 5 Sertoli cell, 6 myofibroblasts, 7 Leydig cells, 8 capillaries
Identifiers
MeSHD007985
FMA72297
Anatomical terms of microanatomy
[edit on Wikidata]

Structure edit

The mammalian Leydig cell is a polyhedral epithelioid cell with a single eccentrically located ovoid nucleus. The nucleus contains one to three prominent nucleoli and large amounts of dark-staining peripheral heterochromatin. The acidophilic cytoplasm usually contains numerous membrane-bound lipid droplets and large amounts of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER).[4] Besides the abundance of SER with scattered patches of rough endoplasmic reticulum, several mitochondria are also prominent within the cytoplasm. Reinke crystals have lipofuscin pigment and rod-shaped crystal-like structures 3 to 20 micrometres in diameter.[5]

Adult-type Leydig cells differentiate in the post-natal testis and are dormant until puberty.[6] They are preceded in the testis by a population of fetal-type Leydig cells from the 8th to the 20th week of gestation, which produce enough testosterone for masculinisation of a male fetus.[7]

Androgen production edit

Leydig cells release a class of hormones called androgens (19-carbon steroids).[8] They secrete testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), when stimulated by the luteinizing hormone (LH), which is released from the anterior pituitary in response to gonadotropin releasing hormone which in turn is released by the hypothalamus.[8]

LH binds to its receptor (LHCGR) which is a G-protein coupled receptor and consequently increases the production of cAMP.[8] cAMP, in turn through protein kinase A activation, stimulates cholesterol translocation from intracellular sources (primarily the plasma membrane and intracellular stores) to the mitochondria, firstly to the outer mitochondrial membrane and then cholesterol needs to be translocated to the inner mitochondrial membrane by steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, which is the rate-limiting step in steroid biosynthesis. This is followed by pregnenolone formation from the translocated cholesterol via the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, which is found in the inner mitochondrial membrane, eventually leading to testosterone synthesis and secretion by Leydig cells.[8]

In rats, prolactin (PRL) increases the response of Leydig cells to LH by increasing the number of LH receptors expressed on Leydig cells.[9]

Clinical significance edit

 
Micrograph of a Leydig cell tumour. H&E stain.

Leydig cells may grow uncontrollably and form a Leydig cell tumour. These may be hormonally active, i.e. secrete testosterone. The function of Reinke crystals is unknown, but they appear in the case of Leydig cell tumours.[5] They are found in less than half of all Leydig cell tumors, but when present, they may serve to confirm the diagnosis of a Leydig cell tumor.[10][11] No other interstitial cell within the testes has a nucleus or cytoplasm with these characteristics, making identification relatively easy.

While any age is susceptible to a Leydig cell tumour, Leydig cell tumours are more common in people aged 5 to 10 and 30 to 35.[12] A Leydig cell tumour in a child usually causes precocious puberty.[12] About 10% of boys with the tumour have gynecomastia.[12] Although a Leydig cell tumour is always benign in children, it is malignant in 10% to 15% of adults.[12] It is the most common testicular cancer of non-germ cell origin.[13]

Sonography may be used to identify cystic areas, but it is unable to tell benign tumours apart from malignant tumours.[13]

Adrenomyeloneuropathy is another example of a disease affecting the Leydig cell.[14] In this case, a person's testosterone may fall despite higher-than-normal levels of LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Etymology edit

Leydig cells are named after the German anatomist Franz Leydig, who discovered them in 1850.[15]

Additional images edit

  •  
    Section of a genital cord of the testis of a human embryo 3.5 cm long
  •  
    Intermediate magnification micrograph of a Leydig cell tumour, H&E stain
  •  
    High magnification micrograph of a Leydig cell tumour, H&E stain
  •  
    Cross-section of seminiferous tubules; arrows indicate location of Leydig cells

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Chabner, Davi-Ellen (2016). The Language of Medicine - E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 316. ISBN 978-0-32-337083-7.
  2. ^ Johnson, Martin H. (2018). Essential Reproduction. John Wiley & Sons. p. 131. ISBN 978-1-11-924645-9.
  3. ^ Zhou, Ming; Netto, George; Epstein, Jonathan I (2022). Uropathology E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 428. ISBN 978-0-32-365396-1.
  4. ^ Rhoades, Rodney A.; Bell, David R. (2022). Medical Physiology: Principles for Clinical Medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 2031. ISBN 978-1-97-516045-6.
  5. ^ a b Partin, Alan W.; Wein, Alan J.; Kavoussi, Louis R.; Peters, Craig A.; Dmochowski, Roger R. (2020). Campbell Walsh Wein Urology. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 1124. ISBN 978-0-32-367227-6.
  6. ^ Nieschlag, Eberhard; Behre, Hermann M. (2012). Testosterone: Action - Deficiency - Substitution. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 9. ISBN 978-3-64-272185-4.
  7. ^ Svechnikov K, Landreh L, Weisser J, Izzo G, Colón E, Svechnikova I, Söder O (2010). "Origin, development and regulation of human Leydig cells". Horm Res Paediatr. 73 (2): 93–101. doi:10.1159/000277141. PMID 20190545. S2CID 5986143.
  8. ^ a b c d Zirkin, Barry R; Papadopoulos, Vassilios (July 2018). "Leydig cells: formation, function, and regulation". Biology of Reproduction. 99 (1): 101–111. doi:10.1093/biolre/ioy059. ISSN 0006-3363. PMC 6044347. PMID 29566165.
  9. ^ Steinbach, Thomas J.; Patrick, Daniel J.; Cosenza, Mary Ellen (2019). Toxicologic Pathology for Non-Pathologists. Springer Nature. p. 1124. ISBN 978-1-49-399777-0.
  10. ^ Al-Agha O, Axiotis C (2007). "An in-depth look at Leydig cell tumor of the testis". Arch Pathol Lab Med. 131 (2): 311–7. doi:10.5858/2007-131-311-AILALC. PMID 17284120.
  11. ^ Ramnani, Dharam M (2010-06-11). "Leydig Cell Tumor : Reinke's Crystalloids". Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  12. ^ a b c d Jameson, J. Larry; De Groot, Leslie J. (2015). Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 2365. ISBN 978-0-32-332195-2.
  13. ^ a b Henningsen, Charlotte; Kuntz, Kathryn; Youngs, Diane (2013). Clinical Guide to Sonography: Exercises for Critical Thinking. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 350. ISBN 978-0-32-309164-0.
  14. ^ Chovel-Sella, Alum; Halper, Alyssa (2020). "Adrenal Insufficiency". Endocrine Conditions in Pediatrics: A Practical Guide. Springer Nature. p. 286. ISBN 978-3-03-052215-5.
  15. ^ synd/625 at Who Named It?

External links edit

  • Histology image: 16907loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University

May 03, 2024
leydig, cell, also, known, interstitial, cells, testes, interstitial, cells, leydig, found, adjacent, seminiferous, tubules, testicle, produce, testosterone, presence, luteinizing, hormone, they, polyhedral, shape, have, large, prominent, nucleus, eosinophilic. Leydig cells also known as interstitial cells of the testes and interstitial cells of Leydig are found adjacent to the seminiferous tubules in the testicle and produce testosterone in the presence of luteinizing hormone LH 1 2 They are polyhedral in shape and have a large prominent nucleus an eosinophilic cytoplasm and numerous lipid filled vesicles 3 Leydig cellMicrograph showing a cluster of Leydig cells center of image H amp E stain Histological section through testicular parenchyma of a boar 1 Lumen of convoluted part of the seminiferous tubules 2 spermatids 3 spermatocytes 4 spermatogonia 5 Sertoli cell 6 myofibroblasts 7 Leydig cells 8 capillariesIdentifiersMeSHD007985FMA72297Anatomical terms of microanatomy edit on Wikidata Contents 1 Structure 2 Androgen production 3 Clinical significance 4 Etymology 5 Additional images 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksStructure editThe mammalian Leydig cell is a polyhedral epithelioid cell with a single eccentrically located ovoid nucleus The nucleus contains one to three prominent nucleoli and large amounts of dark staining peripheral heterochromatin The acidophilic cytoplasm usually contains numerous membrane bound lipid droplets and large amounts of smooth endoplasmic reticulum SER 4 Besides the abundance of SER with scattered patches of rough endoplasmic reticulum several mitochondria are also prominent within the cytoplasm Reinke crystals have lipofuscin pigment and rod shaped crystal like structures 3 to 20 micrometres in diameter 5 Adult type Leydig cells differentiate in the post natal testis and are dormant until puberty 6 They are preceded in the testis by a population of fetal type Leydig cells from the 8th to the 20th week of gestation which produce enough testosterone for masculinisation of a male fetus 7 Androgen production editLeydig cells release a class of hormones called androgens 19 carbon steroids 8 They secrete testosterone androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone DHEA when stimulated by the luteinizing hormone LH which is released from the anterior pituitary in response to gonadotropin releasing hormone which in turn is released by the hypothalamus 8 LH binds to its receptor LHCGR which is a G protein coupled receptor and consequently increases the production of cAMP 8 cAMP in turn through protein kinase A activation stimulates cholesterol translocation from intracellular sources primarily the plasma membrane and intracellular stores to the mitochondria firstly to the outer mitochondrial membrane and then cholesterol needs to be translocated to the inner mitochondrial membrane by steroidogenic acute regulatory protein which is the rate limiting step in steroid biosynthesis This is followed by pregnenolone formation from the translocated cholesterol via the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme which is found in the inner mitochondrial membrane eventually leading to testosterone synthesis and secretion by Leydig cells 8 In rats prolactin PRL increases the response of Leydig cells to LH by increasing the number of LH receptors expressed on Leydig cells 9 Clinical significance edit nbsp Micrograph of a Leydig cell tumour H amp E stain Leydig cells may grow uncontrollably and form a Leydig cell tumour These may be hormonally active i e secrete testosterone The function of Reinke crystals is unknown but they appear in the case of Leydig cell tumours 5 They are found in less than half of all Leydig cell tumors but when present they may serve to confirm the diagnosis of a Leydig cell tumor 10 11 No other interstitial cell within the testes has a nucleus or cytoplasm with these characteristics making identification relatively easy While any age is susceptible to a Leydig cell tumour Leydig cell tumours are more common in people aged 5 to 10 and 30 to 35 12 A Leydig cell tumour in a child usually causes precocious puberty 12 About 10 of boys with the tumour have gynecomastia 12 Although a Leydig cell tumour is always benign in children it is malignant in 10 to 15 of adults 12 It is the most common testicular cancer of non germ cell origin 13 Sonography may be used to identify cystic areas but it is unable to tell benign tumours apart from malignant tumours 13 Adrenomyeloneuropathy is another example of a disease affecting the Leydig cell 14 In this case a person s testosterone may fall despite higher than normal levels of LH and follicle stimulating hormone FSH Etymology editLeydig cells are named after the German anatomist Franz Leydig who discovered them in 1850 15 Additional images edit nbsp Section of a genital cord of the testis of a human embryo 3 5 cm long nbsp Intermediate magnification micrograph of a Leydig cell tumour H amp E stain nbsp High magnification micrograph of a Leydig cell tumour H amp E stain nbsp Cross section of seminiferous tubules arrows indicate location of Leydig cellsSee also editSertoli cell Sertoli Leydig cell tumour List of human cell types derived from the germ layersReferences edit Chabner Davi Ellen 2016 The Language of Medicine E Book Elsevier Health Sciences p 316 ISBN 978 0 32 337083 7 Johnson Martin H 2018 Essential Reproduction John Wiley amp Sons p 131 ISBN 978 1 11 924645 9 Zhou Ming Netto George Epstein Jonathan I 2022 Uropathology E Book Elsevier Health Sciences p 428 ISBN 978 0 32 365396 1 Rhoades Rodney A Bell David R 2022 Medical Physiology Principles for Clinical Medicine Lippincott Williams amp Wilkins p 2031 ISBN 978 1 97 516045 6 a b Partin Alan W Wein Alan J Kavoussi Louis R Peters Craig A Dmochowski Roger R 2020 Campbell Walsh Wein Urology Elsevier Health Sciences p 1124 ISBN 978 0 32 367227 6 Nieschlag Eberhard Behre Hermann M 2012 Testosterone Action Deficiency Substitution Springer Science amp Business Media p 9 ISBN 978 3 64 272185 4 Svechnikov K Landreh L Weisser J Izzo G Colon E Svechnikova I Soder O 2010 Origin development and regulation of human Leydig cells Horm Res Paediatr 73 2 93 101 doi 10 1159 000277141 PMID 20190545 S2CID 5986143 a b c d Zirkin Barry R Papadopoulos Vassilios July 2018 Leydig cells formation function and regulation Biology of Reproduction 99 1 101 111 doi 10 1093 biolre ioy059 ISSN 0006 3363 PMC 6044347 PMID 29566165 Steinbach Thomas J Patrick Daniel J Cosenza Mary Ellen 2019 Toxicologic Pathology for Non Pathologists Springer Nature p 1124 ISBN 978 1 49 399777 0 Al Agha O Axiotis C 2007 An in depth look at Leydig cell tumor of the testis Arch Pathol Lab Med 131 2 311 7 doi 10 5858 2007 131 311 AILALC PMID 17284120 Ramnani Dharam M 2010 06 11 Leydig Cell Tumor Reinke s Crystalloids Retrieved 2011 11 06 a b c d Jameson J Larry De Groot Leslie J 2015 Endocrinology Adult and Pediatric Elsevier Health Sciences p 2365 ISBN 978 0 32 332195 2 a b Henningsen Charlotte Kuntz Kathryn Youngs Diane 2013 Clinical Guide to Sonography Exercises for Critical Thinking Elsevier Health Sciences p 350 ISBN 978 0 32 309164 0 Chovel Sella Alum Halper Alyssa 2020 Adrenal Insufficiency Endocrine Conditions in Pediatrics A Practical Guide Springer Nature p 286 ISBN 978 3 03 052215 5 synd 625 at Who Named It External links editHistology image 16907loa Histology Learning System at Boston University Reproductive Physiology Diagram at umassmed edu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leydig cell amp oldid 1214823278, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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