Development of the testicular interstitium after neonatal hemicastration in the boar

Development of the prepubertal interstitium of the right testes was characterized every 14 days from 10 to 122 days of age in intact boars (I) and boars hemicastrated (HC) at 10 days of age from two herds (Trial 1 and Trial 2). Comparisons were made between the remaining testis of Group-HC boars and one testis in Group-I boars. The relative mass (mass of component/body mass) of interstitium was 151% greater (P less than 0.001) in Group-HC than Group-I boars by 52 days of age. The relative mass of interstitium was greater (P less than 0.01) in Trial-1 than Trial-2 boars within each treatment from 80 to 122 days of age. The relative mass of interstitial space was 76% greater (P less than 0.05) in Group-HC than in one testis of Group-I boars by 52 days of age and greater (P less than 0.05) in Trial-1 than Trial-2 boars within each treatment from 80 to 122 days of age. The relative mass of Leydig cells was 254% greater (P less than 0.0001) in Group-HC than Group-I boars by 52 days of age and remained greater (P less than 0.05) in Group-HC than Group-I boars from 52 to 122 days of age. By 52 days of age the relative mass of Leydig cell nuclei and cytoplasm was 235% and 265% greater (P less than 0.0001) in Group-HC than Group-I boars, respectively, and both remained greater (P less than 0.05) in Group-HC than in Group-I until 122 days of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)