The development of rat Leydig cell progenitors in vitro: how essential is luteinising hormone?

Unlabelled: Luteinising hormone (LH) appears to be important for the establishment of the adult-type Leydig cell population. The role of LH in the initial steps of stem Leydig cell/precursor cell differentiation is less clear. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of LH in the differentiation of spindle-shaped mesenchymal-like cells into Leydig cell progenitors.