Endocytosis and the lysosomal apparatus of rat Leydig cells

Abstract

The Leydig cells of the rat testis which are involved in testosterone production contain an abundance of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria (Figs. 2,6). These cells also possess many peroxisomes, lysosomes and multivesicular bodies (MVB's). On the cell surface, the plasma membrane contains numerous short microvilli, small invaginations and large plasmalemmal folds which appear to engulf extracellular fluid. There are also many large dilated vacuoles adjacent to the cell surface. The purpose of the present study is to determine if these cells show endocytic activity and to differentiate by various cytochemical means lysosomal elements from peroxisomes.To identify lysosomes, tissue chopper sections of 2% glutaraldehyde-fixed testes (containing 2.5% dextran) were incubated in media containing thiamine monophosphate as a substrate (Lalli, 1983) to demonstrate the presence of acid phosphatase or in media containing P-nitrocatechol sulfate for the demonstration of arylsulfatase (Hopsu-Havu et al., 1967).