Morphometric study of the Leydig cell in Korean native cattle (Bos taurus coreae)

Changes in the Leydig cell from pre-puberty to adulthood were studied in Korean native cattle. Eight groups of male cattle aged 14, 17, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 104 weeks (n=7 cattle per group) after birth were used. The purpose of this study was to obtain quantitative information on the Leydig cell of the Korean native cattle during postnatal development. Testes of cattle were fixed by perfusion using a fixative containing 2.5% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer, processed and embedded in Epon-araldite. Using $1{\mu}m$ section stained with methylene blue-azure II, qualitative and quantitative (stereological) morphological studies were performed. The average diameter of seminiferous tubules gradually increased with age from 14 ($75.56{\mu}m$) to 104 weeks ($298.9{\mu}m$). The volume density of the seminiferous tubules increased with age from 54.2% at week 14 to 76.9% at week 104. The volume density of the interstitium represents 45.52% at week 14. This proportion progressively diminishes during development to reach a value of 23.14% at week 104. The volume density of Leydig cells decreased almost linearly from 14 (20.71%) to 104 weeks (5.28%). The absolute volume of Leydig cells per testis increased significantly from 14 to 104 weeks. The number of Leydig per testis have almost linearly increased from 14 to 104 weeks. The average volume of a Leydig cell reached maximum size by 104 weeks ($2553{\mu}m^3$). These data suggested development of Leydig cell can be classified as the fetal and immature adult Leydig cells (14~35 weeks), and the adult Leydig cells (40~104 weeks).

한우 고환 간질세포의 형태계측학적 연구