Electron Microscopic Study of Interstitial Cells in Cryptorchid Human Testes. I: Interstitial Cells in Prepubertal Age

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To establish the ultrastructural features of Leydig cells 50 biopsies of prepubertal human cryptorchid testes were examined. Light microscopic and EM observations reveal the presence of 2 types of interstitial cells distinguishable on the basis of the peculiar ultrastructure characteristics of the nucleus and cytoplasm. These 2 types of interstitial cells seem to represent different stages of cell differentiation. There are fibroblast-like cells and cells corresponding to Leydig cells. It may be inferred that the fibroblast-like cells are the precursor cells of the Leydig cells.