Leydig cells produce testicular androgen. They constitute about 7% of the testicular volume in adult bulls and 20-30 % in boars. Intercellular canalicular gap junctions are found between the adjacent cells.
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The cells are irregular polyhedral with spherical nuclei; lipid inclusions are found in all species. SERs are abundant and contain steroid dehydrogenase, and mitochondria possess tubular cristae.
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
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It consists of the testis, epididymis, ductus deferens, accessory sex gland (vesicular, prostate, bulbo-urethral), urethra, and penis.
TESTIS:
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Present in a specialized pouch of skin called the scrotum and covered by a layer of tunica vaginalis, which has two layers. The parietal layer remains attached to the scrotum, and the visceral layers are closely associated with the tunica albuginea of the testis.
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Testes are enclosed by a capsule of dense, irregular connective tissue called tunica albuginea.
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The trabeculae divide the testis into lobules, which contain 1-4 convoluted seminiferous tubules. These are tortuous tubules with a diameter of 200-400 µm, lined by stratified epithelium composed of 2 cell types.
1) Sustentacular cells/ supporting cells/ Sertoli cells
2) Spermatogenic cells
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The intertubular spaces contain blood and lymph vessels, fibrocytes, free mononuclear cells & interstitial endocrine cells (Leydig cells).
