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Histological Changes of the Testicular Interstitium during Postnatal Development in Microminipigs

Akihisa Kangawa1, Masayoshi Otake1, Satoko Enya1

  • 11 Swine and Poultry Department, Swine and Poultry Research Center, Shizuoka Prefectural Research Institute of Animal Industry, Kikugawa, Shizuoka, Japan.

Toxicologic Pathology
|February 12, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Microminipig testicular development shows Leydig cells mature and increase post-spermatogenesis. This study provides key insights into Leydig cell development and steroidogenesis for toxicology studies.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Comparative anatomy
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Microminipigs are valuable models for toxicology and pharmacology due to their size.
  • Understanding testicular development is crucial for interpreting toxicity data in this model.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the development of testicular interstitium and steroidogenesis in microminipigs from birth to 12 months.
  • To characterize Leydig cell populations and their changes over time.
  • To correlate steroidogenic enzyme activity and serum testosterone levels with age.

Main Methods:

  • Histological examination of testicular interstitium.
  • Immunohistochemistry to detect steroidogenic enzymes in Leydig cells.
  • Measurement of serum testosterone levels.

Main Results:

  • Testicular interstitium comprises large and small Leydig cells, macrophages, and mast cells.
  • Small Leydig cells transform into large Leydig cells, with Leydig cell composition increasing significantly after 3 months.
  • Serum testosterone levels rise substantially between 1.5 and 4.5 months, indicating sexual maturation.

Conclusions:

  • The study details the developmental trajectory of Leydig cells and steroidogenesis in microminipigs.
  • This foundational data is essential for future toxicological assessments using microminipigs.
  • The findings highlight species-specific variations in testicular interstitial structure relevant to preclinical studies.
Keywords:
Leydig celldevelopmentimmunohistochemistrymicrominipigminipigsteroidogenic enzymetesticular interstitium

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