Neuroendocrine marker substances in human Leydig cells--changes by disturbances of testicular function

A number of neuroendocrine and neuronal markers were demonstrated in Leydig cells of the testes of 18 men aged between 20 and 81 years. Tissue sections were divided into five groups, i.e. carcinoma of the prostate (control cases; n = 4), seminoma (n = 8), anti-androgen therapy (n = 3), oestradiol therapy (n = 2) and cryptorchidism (n = 1). The following substances were immunocytochemically tested: the monoamine synthesizing enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase, the indolamine serotonin, the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin, calbindin and S-100 protein, the microtubule associated protein-2, as well as neurofilament protein 200, synaptophysin, neuron specific enolase, substance P and chromogranin A + B. All these substances were found in Leydig cells of all sections independently of the pathological changes of the testes. Compared with the control cases, all the other groups showed a significantly weaker immunoreactivity for all markers. The uniformity of staining among the different antibodies allows the deduction that these neuroactive peptides may belong to a basic equipment of Leydig cells probably stabilizing their function in an autocrine manner. On the other hand, Leydig cells themselves seem to be a stable structural component of the testis, which are not essentially involved in the pathogenesis of the disturbances mentioned above.