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A histochemical study of the circumtesticular leydig cells of a teiid lizard, Cnemidophorus tigris
Author(s) -
Currie Clyde,
Taylor Harry L.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1051320107
Subject(s) - biology , lizard , dehydrogenase , leydig cell , medicine , endocrinology , hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases , enzyme , biochemistry , zoology , hormone , luteinizing hormone
Several oxidative enzymes in the testis of the teiid lizard Cnemidophorus tigris were studied histochemically. The cells of the circumtesticular sheath (Leydig cell tunic) are functionally equivalent to Leydig cells of the interstitium on the basis of similar histochemical reactions for the five enzyme systems studied. Both groups of cells were positive for 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, NADH diaphorase, NADPH diaphorase, and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase. These results support the hypothesis that the circumtesticular sheath has endocrine function as indicated by its vascularity and its ability to catalyze histochemical reactions involving steroid biosynthesis.