Effects of hypobaric hypoxia on the Leydig cell population of the testis of the rat

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Abstract
A group of ten young adult male Wistar albino rats was exposed to hypobaric hypoxia at a barometric pressure of 380 mmHg for 28 days. After this period their testes were of smaller weight (and volume) in comparison with matched controls (1·220 vs 1·553 g; P < 0·005). Histological examination revealed degeneration and sloughing of spermatogenic cells in occasional tubules. Quantitative methods also revealed a marked difference in the volume of the testis occupied by Leydig cells. These were of a significantly smaller total volume in the hypoxic animals (0·046 vs 0·083 ml; P < 0·001) and this could not be accounted for merely by the smaller overall testicular volume. J. Endocr. (1984) 103, 59–62