Abstract
There are several comprehensive surveys on the history of the Leydig cells (see Christensen 1996, 2007, for reviews). Here we only provide some basic information on the initial discovery of this cell type. In addition, we specifically address those research results obtained during the subsequent course of research that are related to the identification of the endocrine and neuroendocrine properties of the Leydig cells and the striking interrelation between these cells and the testicular blood vessels.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Angelova P, Davidoff MS (1989) Immunocytochemical demonstration of substance P in hamster Leydig cells during ontogenesis. Z Mikrosk Anat Forsch 103:560–566
Angelova P, Davidoff MS, Kanchev L (1991a) Substance P-induced inhibiting of Leydig cell steroidogenesis in primary culture. Andrologia 23:325–327
Bardin CW, Chen C-L C, Morris PL, Gerendai I, Boitani C, Liotta AS, Margioris A, Krieger DT (1987) Proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides in testis, ovary, and tissues of reproduction. Recent Prog Horm Res 43:1–28
Beissner H (1898) Die Zwischensubstanz des Hodens und ihre Bedeutung. Arch Mikrosk Anat Entwicklungsmech 51:794–820
Berthold AA (1849a) Transplatation der Hoden. Arch Anat Physiol Wiss Med 16:42–46
Boll F (1869) Beitrage zur mikroskopischen Anatomie der azinosen Drusen (according to Beissner 1898)
Bouin P, Ancel P (1903) Recherches sur les cellules interstitielles du testicule des mammiferes. Arch Zool Exp Gen 4 Ser 1:437–523
Chen C-LC, Mather JP, Morris PL, Bardin CW (1984) Expression of proopiomelanocortin-like gene in testis and epididymis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 81:5672–5675
Christensen AK (1965) Fine structure of testicular interstitial cells in guinea pigs. J Cell Biol 26:911–935
Christensen AK (1996) A history of studies on testicular Leydig cells: the first century. In: Payne AH, Hardy MP, Russell LD (eds) The Leydig cell. Cache River, Vienna, pp 1–29
Christensen AK, Mason NR (1965) Comparative ability of seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue of rat testis to synthesize androgens from progesterone-4- 14 C in vitro. Endocrinology 76:646–656
Cooke BA, Choi MCK, Dirami G, Lopez-Ruiz MP, West AP (1992) Control of steroidogenesis in Leydig cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 43:445–449
David K (1935) Uber das Testosteron, das kristallisierte mannliche Hormon aus Stierentestes. Acta Brevia Neerl 5:85–108
David K, Dingemanse E, Freud J, Laqueur E (1935) Uber krystallinisches mannliches Hormon aus Hoden (Testosteron), wirksamer als aus Harn oder aus Cholesterin bereitetes Androsteron. Z Phys Chem 233:281–282
Davidoff M (1986) Immunocytochemistry - possibilities for demonstration of different tissue antigens and establishment of the functional role of cells. Acta Histochem 33 (Suppl):175–193
Davidoff MS, Schulze W, Middendorff R, Holstein AF (1993) The Leydig cell of the human testis - a new member of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. Cell Tissue Res 271:429–439
Davidoff MS, Middendorff R, Holstein AF (1996) Dual nature of Leydig cells of the human testis. Biomed Rev 6:11–41
Davidoff MS, Middendorff R, Koeva Y, Pusch W, Jezek D, Muller D (2001) Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its receptors GFR a -1 and GFR a -2 in the human testis. Ital J Anat Embryol 106 (Suppl 2):173–180
Debeljuk L, Rao JN, Bartke A (2003) Tachykinins and their possible modulatory role on testicular function: a review. Int J Androl 26:202–210
De Groat WC, Kawatani M, Hisamitsu T, Lowe I, Morgan R, Rappolo J, Booth AM, Nadelhaft I, Kuo D, Thork K (1983) The role of neuropeptides in the sacral autonomic reflex pathways of the cat. J Auton Nerv Syst 7:339–350
de Kretser DM (1982) Sertoli cell-Leydig cell interaction in the regulation of testicular function. Int J Androl 5 (Suppl):11–17
Fabbri A, Knox G, Buczko E, Dufau ML (1988) Beta-endorphin production by the fetal Leydig cells: regulation and implications for paracrine control of Sertoli cell function. Endocrinology 122:749–755
Fujita T (1989) Present status of paraneuron concept. Arch Histol Cytol 52:1–8
Ge RS, Shan LX, Hardy MP (1996) Pubertal development of Leydig cells. In: Payne AH, Hardy MP, Russell LD (eds) The Leydig cell. Cache River, Vienna, pp 159–174
Gibson SJ, Polak JM (1986) Neurochemistry of the spinal cord. In: Polak IM, Van Noorden S (eds) Immunocytochemsitry: modern methods and applications. Wright, Bristol, pp 349–359
Hall PF, Irby DC, de Kretser DM (1969) Conversion of cholesterol to androgens by rat testes: comparison of interstitial cells and seminiferous tubules. Endocrinology 84:488–496
Hanes FM (1911) The relations of the interstitial cells of Leydig to the production of an internal secretion by the mammalian testis. J Exp Med 13:338–354
Harvey RJ (1875) Uber die Zwischensubstanz des Hoden. Centralbl Med Wiss 13 (30):497
Henle J (1866) Handbuch der Eingeweidelehre des Menschen. Handbuch der systematischen Anatomie des Menschen, vol 2. Vieweg, Braunschweig, p 538
Hofmeister H (1872) Untersuchungen uber die Zwischensubstanz im Hoden der Saugetiere. Sitzungsber MathNaturwiss Cl Kais Akad Wiss Wien 65 (3):77–100
Huhtaniemi I, Toppari J (1995) Endocrine, paracrine and autocrine regulation of testicular steroidogenesis. In: Mukhopadhyay AK, Raizada MK (eds) Tissue renin-angiotensin systems. Current concepts of local regulators in reproductive and endocrine organs. Plenum, New York, pp 33–54
Jacobson A (1879) Zur pathologischen Histologie der traumatischen Hodenentzundung. Virchows Arch Pathol Anat Physiol Klin Med 75:349–398
Kerr JB, Donachie K (1986) Regeneration of Leydig cells in unilaterally cryptorchid rats: evidence for stimulation by local testicular factors. Cell Tissue Res 245:649–655
Leydig F (1850) Zur Anatomie der mannlichen Geschlechtsorgane und Analdrusen der Saugetiere. Z Wiss Zool 2:1–57
Margioris AN, Liotta AS, Vaudry H, Bardin CW, Krieger DT (1983) Characterization of immunoreactive proopiomelanocortin-related peptides in rat testes. Endocrinology 113:663–671
Middendorff R, Davidoff MS, Holstein AF (1993) Neuroendocrine marker substances in human Leydig cells - changes by disturbances of testicular function. Andrologia 25:257–262
Middendorff R, Davidoff MS, Mayer B, Holstein AF (1995) Neuroendocrine characteristics of human Leydig cell tumors. Andrologia 27:351–355
Neaves WB (1975) Leydig cells. A Report Prepated for The Ford Foundation Review of Research and Support in Reproductive Biology and Contrarceptive Development. Contraceptive 11:571–606
Nussbaum M (1880) Zur Differenzierung des Geschlechts im Tierreich. Arch Mikrosk Anat 18:1–121
Parvinen M (1982) Regulation of the seminiferous epithelium. Endocr Rev 6:663–671
Pearse AGE (1969) The cytochemistry and ultrastructure of polypeptide hormone-producing cells of the APUD series and the embryonic, physiologic and pathologic implications of the concept. J Histochem Cytochem 17:303–313
Plato J (1896) Die interstitiellen Zellen des Hodens und ihrer physiologische Bedeutung. Arch Mikrosk Anat 48:280–304
Plato J (1897) Zur Kenntnis der Anatomie und Physiologie der Geschlechtsorgane. Arch Mikrosk Anat 50:640–685
Regaud C, Policard A (1901) Etude comparative du testicule du porc normal, impubere et ectopique, au point de vue des cellules interstitielles. C R Soc Biol 53:450–452
Reinke F (1896) Beitrage zur Histologie des Menschen. Arch Mikrosk Anat 47:34–44
Roberts GW, Allen YS (1986) Immunohistochemistry of brain neuropeptides. In: Polak JM, Van Noorden S (eds) Immunocytochemistry. Modern methods and applications. Wright, Bristol, pp 339–350
Saez JM, Lejeune H (1996) Regulation of Leydig cell functions by hormones and growth factors other than LH and IGF-1. In: Payne AH, Hardy MP, Russell LD (eds) The Leydig cell. Cache River, Vienna, pp 383–406
Saez JM, Lejeune H, Avallet O, Habert R, Durand P (1995) Le controle des functions differencies des cellules de Leydig. Med Sci 11:547–553
Saint-Pol P, Peyrat JP, Engelhardt RP, Leroy-Martin B (1986) Immunohistochemical localization of enkephalins in adult rat testis: evidence for a gonadotropin control. Andrologia 18:485–488
Schulze W, Davidoff MS, Holstein AF (1987a) Are Leydig cells of neural origin? Substance P-like immunoreactivity in human testicular tissue. Acta Endocrinol 115:373–377
Schulze W, Davidoff MS, Ivell R, Holstein AF (1991) Neuron specific enolase-like immunoreactivity in human Leydig cells. Andrologia 23:279–283
Shaha C, Liotta AS, Krieger DT, Bardin CW (1984) The ontogeny of immunoreactive betaendorphin in fetal, neonatal, and pubertal testes from mouse and hamster. Endocrinology 114:1584–1591
Sharpe RM (1983) Local control of testicular function. Q J Exp Physiol 68:265–287
Sharpe RM, Cooper I (1987) Comparison of the effects on purified Leydig cells of four hormones (oxytocin, vasopressin, opioids and LHRH) with suggested paracrine roles in the testis. J Endocrinol 113:89–96
Skinner MK, Fritz IB (1986) Identification of a non-mitogenic paracrine factor involved in mesenchymal-epithelial cell interaction between testicular peritubular cells and Sertoli cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 44:85–97
Tsong SD, Phillips D, Halmi N, Liotta AS, Margioris A, Bardin CW, Krieger DT (1982) ACTHand beta-endorphin-related peptides are present in multiple sites in the reproductive tract of male rat. Endocrinology 110:2204–2206
Verhoeven G, Cailleau J (1987) A Leydig cell stimulatory factor produced by human testicular tubules. Mol Cell Endocrinol 49:2204–2206
von Ebner V (1871) Untersuchungen uber den Bau der Samenkanalchen und die Entwicklung der Spermatozoiden bei den Saugetieren und beim Menschen. Rollets Unters Inst Physiol Histol Graz 2:200 - 215 235–236
von Hansemann D (1895) Uber die sogenannten Zwischenzellen des Hodens und deren Bedeutung bei pathologischen Veranderungen. Virchows Arch A 142:538–546
Waldeyer W (1870) Uber Bindegewebszellen. Archiv Mikrosk Anat 11:176–194
Wattenberg LW (1958) Microscopic histochemical demonstration of steroid-3s-ol-dehydrogenase in tissue sections. J Histochem Cytochem 6:225–232
Weinbauer GF, Nieschlag E (1995) Gonadotrophin control of testicular germ cell development. In: Mukhopadhyay AK Raizada MK (eds) Tissue renin-angiotensin systems. Current concepts of local regulators in reproductive and endocrine organs. Plenum, New York, pp 55–65
Whitehead RH (1904) The embryonic development of the interstitial cells of Leydig. Am J Anat 3:167–182
Zagon IS, Rhodes RE, McLaughlin PJ (1986) Localization of enkephalin immunoreactivity in diverse tissues and cells of the developing and adult rat. Cell Tissue Res 246:561–565
Christensen AK (2007) A history of Leydig cell research. In: Payne AH, Hardy MP (eds) Contemporarry endocrinology: the Leydig cell in health and disease. Humana, Totowa, pp 3–30
von Ebner V (1902) A. Koelliker's Handbuch der Gewebelehre des Menschen, 6th edn. Engelmann , Leipzig von Lenhossek M (1897) Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Zwischenzellen des Hodens. Arch Anat Phys Anat Abt 65–85
Boll (1871) Untersuchungen uber den Bau und die Entwicklung der Gewebe. Arch Mikrosk Anat 7:322
Waldeyer W (1872) Die Entwicklung der Carcinome. Virchows Archiv 55:67–159
Bouin P, Ancel P (1904) La glande interstitielle a seule, dans le testicle, une action generale sur l'organisme. Demonstration experimentale. C R Acad Sci 138:110–112
Jegou B, Pineau C (1995) Current aspects of autocrine and paracrine regulation of spermatogenesis . In: Mukhopadhyay AK, Raizada MK (eds) Tissue rennin-angiotensin systems. Current concepts of local regulators in reproductive and endocrine organs. Plenum, New York, pp 67–86
Middendorff R, Muller D, Mewe M, Mukhopadhyay AK, Holstein AF, Davidoff MS(2002) The tunica albuginea of the human testis is characterized by complex contraction and relaxation activities regulated by cyclic GMP. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87:3486–3499
Pearse AGE (1986) The diffuse neuroendocrine system: peptides, amines, placodes and the APUD theory. Prog Brain Res 68:25–31
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Davidoff, M.S., Middendorff, R., Müller, D., Holstein, A.F. (2009). History of and Recent Progress in Leydig Cell Research. In: The Neuroendocrine Leydig Cells and their Stem Cell Progenitors, the Pericytes. Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology, vol 205. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00513-8_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00513-8_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-00512-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-00513-8
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)