Morphometric study on leydig cells in capsulotomized testis of rats.

Aim: To further clarify the changes occurred in the testicular capsulotomized rats.

Methods: In testicular capsulotomized and sham-operated rats, the cross sectional area, the nucleus diameter and the number of Leydig cells were morphologically analyzed by the Vidas Image Processing System connected to a microscope.

Results: In the capsulotomized animals, the cross sectional area of Leydig cells was gradually increased from 30 days onwards. There was no obvious change in the nucleus diameter of Leydig cells. However, The Leydig cell number was significantly increased from day 30 onwards.

Conclusion: In rats, testicular capsulotomy may induce hyperplasia/hypertrophy of Leydig cells in the testis.