Stereological analysis of Reinke's crystals in human Leydig cells

Reinke's crystals in human Leydig cells were analyzed stereologically to assess their functional role. Testicular tissues were taken from seven older men (57--82 years old) with prostatic carcinoma and also from seven younger men (26--38 y.o.) complaining of male infertility. Sections 0.5 micrometer thick, stained with toluidine blue or Heidenhein's iron-hematoxylin were examined by a point-counting method and with a Particle Measurement Computor System (IIMC). When the patients were grouped by age, the mean crystal volume, the number of crystals per cell, the volume of crystals per cell and the volume ratio of crystals to cell were significantly larger in the older age group than in the younger age group. In particular, the latter three variables correlated well with the age of subjects, with correlation coefficients of r = 0.66--0.85. On the other hand, none of these variables had any correlation with the concentration of plasma testosterone. These results indicate that Reinke's crystals can be considered as degenerative products in cell life but not as facultative constituents for testosterone production.