A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes

Hongni He; Zhen Tu; Yang Guo; Bin Peng; Li Ma; Yi Shang; Yugen Li; Xianzhong Deng; Zhengwei Yang

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12

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A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes

Hongni He, Zhen Tu, Yang Guo, Bin Peng, Li Ma, Yi Shang, Yugen Li, Xianzhong Deng, Zhengwei Yang

Published in International Journal of Clinical Urology (Volume 5, Issue 1)

Received: 14 January 2021 Accepted: 21 January 2021 Published: 28 January 2021

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Abstract

It was speculated that vasectomy might induce hyperplasia of Leydig cells associated with atrophy of seminiferous tubules, but estimates of the Leydig cell number were lacking in previous studies. This study aimed to test the speculation by determining the numerical change of Leydig cells and other interstitial cells after a vasectomy that induced spermatogenic damage. Twelve adult Japanese white rabbits and twelve mature Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a unilateral vasectomy away from the scrotum. Six months (rabbits) or thirty-seven days (rats) postoperation, testes on both sides were removed and methacrylate sections prepared. The total numbers (per testis) of all nuclei in the testicular interstitial tissue were estimated with a stereological technique – the optical disector. The results showed that marked spermatogenic damage associated seminiferous tubular atrophy on the vasectomized side occurred in 7 (rabbits) or 5 (rats) of the 12 animals. For the rabbit, the total numbers of myoid cells or leukocytes on the vasectomized side (compared with the contralateral nonvasectomized side) were unchanged but those of Leydig cells and other interstitial cells increased significantly by 41% and 52%, respectively, (a) with the increase in the testis with spermatogenic damage appearing to be larger than that in the testis without spermatogenic damage and (b) without significant increase in the total volume of the interstitium. For the rat, there were no significant differences in the total numbers of any cell type. In conclusion, hyperplasia or hyperproliferation of the interstitial cells, which might be a result of increased intra-testicular pressure for long, was possible postvasectomy, but it might not be indicative of a better function of the cells.

Published in	International Journal of Clinical Urology (Volume 5, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12
Page(s)	4-9
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Interstitial Tissue, Leydig Cells, Number, Rabbits, Rats, Stereology, Testis, Vasectomy

References

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APA Style

Hongni He, Zhen Tu, Yang Guo, Bin Peng, Li Ma, et al. (2021). A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes. International Journal of Clinical Urology, 5(1), 4-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12

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ACS Style

Hongni He; Zhen Tu; Yang Guo; Bin Peng; Li Ma, et al. A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes. Int. J. Clin. Urol. 2021, 5(1), 4-9. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12

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AMA Style

Hongni He, Zhen Tu, Yang Guo, Bin Peng, Li Ma, et al. A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes. Int J Clin Urol. 2021;5(1):4-9. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12,
  author = {Hongni He and Zhen Tu and Yang Guo and Bin Peng and Li Ma and Yi Shang and Yugen Li and Xianzhong Deng and Zhengwei Yang},
  title = {A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes},
  journal = {International Journal of Clinical Urology},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {4-9},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcu.20210501.12},
  abstract = {It was speculated that vasectomy might induce hyperplasia of Leydig cells associated with atrophy of seminiferous tubules, but estimates of the Leydig cell number were lacking in previous studies. This study aimed to test the speculation by determining the numerical change of Leydig cells and other interstitial cells after a vasectomy that induced spermatogenic damage. Twelve adult Japanese white rabbits and twelve mature Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a unilateral vasectomy away from the scrotum. Six months (rabbits) or thirty-seven days (rats) postoperation, testes on both sides were removed and methacrylate sections prepared. The total numbers (per testis) of all nuclei in the testicular interstitial tissue were estimated with a stereological technique – the optical disector. The results showed that marked spermatogenic damage associated seminiferous tubular atrophy on the vasectomized side occurred in 7 (rabbits) or 5 (rats) of the 12 animals. For the rabbit, the total numbers of myoid cells or leukocytes on the vasectomized side (compared with the contralateral nonvasectomized side) were unchanged but those of Leydig cells and other interstitial cells increased significantly by 41% and 52%, respectively, (a) with the increase in the testis with spermatogenic damage appearing to be larger than that in the testis without spermatogenic damage and (b) without significant increase in the total volume of the interstitium. For the rat, there were no significant differences in the total numbers of any cell type. In conclusion, hyperplasia or hyperproliferation of the interstitial cells, which might be a result of increased intra-testicular pressure for long, was possible postvasectomy, but it might not be indicative of a better function of the cells.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes
AU  - Hongni He
AU  - Zhen Tu
AU  - Yang Guo
AU  - Bin Peng
AU  - Li Ma
AU  - Yi Shang
AU  - Yugen Li
AU  - Xianzhong Deng
AU  - Zhengwei Yang
Y1  - 2021/01/28
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12
T2  - International Journal of Clinical Urology
JF  - International Journal of Clinical Urology
JO  - International Journal of Clinical Urology
SP  - 4
EP  - 9
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-1355
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12
AB  - It was speculated that vasectomy might induce hyperplasia of Leydig cells associated with atrophy of seminiferous tubules, but estimates of the Leydig cell number were lacking in previous studies. This study aimed to test the speculation by determining the numerical change of Leydig cells and other interstitial cells after a vasectomy that induced spermatogenic damage. Twelve adult Japanese white rabbits and twelve mature Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a unilateral vasectomy away from the scrotum. Six months (rabbits) or thirty-seven days (rats) postoperation, testes on both sides were removed and methacrylate sections prepared. The total numbers (per testis) of all nuclei in the testicular interstitial tissue were estimated with a stereological technique – the optical disector. The results showed that marked spermatogenic damage associated seminiferous tubular atrophy on the vasectomized side occurred in 7 (rabbits) or 5 (rats) of the 12 animals. For the rabbit, the total numbers of myoid cells or leukocytes on the vasectomized side (compared with the contralateral nonvasectomized side) were unchanged but those of Leydig cells and other interstitial cells increased significantly by 41% and 52%, respectively, (a) with the increase in the testis with spermatogenic damage appearing to be larger than that in the testis without spermatogenic damage and (b) without significant increase in the total volume of the interstitium. For the rat, there were no significant differences in the total numbers of any cell type. In conclusion, hyperplasia or hyperproliferation of the interstitial cells, which might be a result of increased intra-testicular pressure for long, was possible postvasectomy, but it might not be indicative of a better function of the cells.
VL  - 5
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Hongni He

Department of Urological Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
Zhen Tu

Department of Urological Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
Yang Guo

Morphometric Research Laboratory, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
Bin Peng

Morphometric Research Laboratory, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
Li Ma

Morphometric Research Laboratory, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
Yi Shang

Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
Yugen Li

Department of Urological Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
Xianzhong Deng

Department of Urological Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
Zhengwei Yang

Morphometric Research Laboratory, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Hongni He, Zhen Tu, Yang Guo, Bin Peng, Li Ma, et al. (2021). A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes. International Journal of Clinical Urology, 5(1), 4-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12

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ACS Style

Hongni He; Zhen Tu; Yang Guo; Bin Peng; Li Ma, et al. A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes. Int. J. Clin. Urol. 2021, 5(1), 4-9. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12

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AMA Style

Hongni He, Zhen Tu, Yang Guo, Bin Peng, Li Ma, et al. A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes. Int J Clin Urol. 2021;5(1):4-9. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12,
  author = {Hongni He and Zhen Tu and Yang Guo and Bin Peng and Li Ma and Yi Shang and Yugen Li and Xianzhong Deng and Zhengwei Yang},
  title = {A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes},
  journal = {International Journal of Clinical Urology},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {4-9},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcu.20210501.12},
  abstract = {It was speculated that vasectomy might induce hyperplasia of Leydig cells associated with atrophy of seminiferous tubules, but estimates of the Leydig cell number were lacking in previous studies. This study aimed to test the speculation by determining the numerical change of Leydig cells and other interstitial cells after a vasectomy that induced spermatogenic damage. Twelve adult Japanese white rabbits and twelve mature Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a unilateral vasectomy away from the scrotum. Six months (rabbits) or thirty-seven days (rats) postoperation, testes on both sides were removed and methacrylate sections prepared. The total numbers (per testis) of all nuclei in the testicular interstitial tissue were estimated with a stereological technique – the optical disector. The results showed that marked spermatogenic damage associated seminiferous tubular atrophy on the vasectomized side occurred in 7 (rabbits) or 5 (rats) of the 12 animals. For the rabbit, the total numbers of myoid cells or leukocytes on the vasectomized side (compared with the contralateral nonvasectomized side) were unchanged but those of Leydig cells and other interstitial cells increased significantly by 41% and 52%, respectively, (a) with the increase in the testis with spermatogenic damage appearing to be larger than that in the testis without spermatogenic damage and (b) without significant increase in the total volume of the interstitium. For the rat, there were no significant differences in the total numbers of any cell type. In conclusion, hyperplasia or hyperproliferation of the interstitial cells, which might be a result of increased intra-testicular pressure for long, was possible postvasectomy, but it might not be indicative of a better function of the cells.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Stereological (Quantitative) Study of Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Vasectomized Rabbit and Rat Testes
AU  - Hongni He
AU  - Zhen Tu
AU  - Yang Guo
AU  - Bin Peng
AU  - Li Ma
AU  - Yi Shang
AU  - Yugen Li
AU  - Xianzhong Deng
AU  - Zhengwei Yang
Y1  - 2021/01/28
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12
T2  - International Journal of Clinical Urology
JF  - International Journal of Clinical Urology
JO  - International Journal of Clinical Urology
SP  - 4
EP  - 9
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-1355
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20210501.12
AB  - It was speculated that vasectomy might induce hyperplasia of Leydig cells associated with atrophy of seminiferous tubules, but estimates of the Leydig cell number were lacking in previous studies. This study aimed to test the speculation by determining the numerical change of Leydig cells and other interstitial cells after a vasectomy that induced spermatogenic damage. Twelve adult Japanese white rabbits and twelve mature Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a unilateral vasectomy away from the scrotum. Six months (rabbits) or thirty-seven days (rats) postoperation, testes on both sides were removed and methacrylate sections prepared. The total numbers (per testis) of all nuclei in the testicular interstitial tissue were estimated with a stereological technique – the optical disector. The results showed that marked spermatogenic damage associated seminiferous tubular atrophy on the vasectomized side occurred in 7 (rabbits) or 5 (rats) of the 12 animals. For the rabbit, the total numbers of myoid cells or leukocytes on the vasectomized side (compared with the contralateral nonvasectomized side) were unchanged but those of Leydig cells and other interstitial cells increased significantly by 41% and 52%, respectively, (a) with the increase in the testis with spermatogenic damage appearing to be larger than that in the testis without spermatogenic damage and (b) without significant increase in the total volume of the interstitium. For the rat, there were no significant differences in the total numbers of any cell type. In conclusion, hyperplasia or hyperproliferation of the interstitial cells, which might be a result of increased intra-testicular pressure for long, was possible postvasectomy, but it might not be indicative of a better function of the cells.
VL  - 5
IS  - 1
ER  -

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