Abstract
The aim of the present report was to study the course of development of rat Leydig cells from 17 fetal day (f.d.) up to 5 postnatal day (p.n.d.), with the help of enzymhistochemical reaction of delta 5-3 beta Hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSDH). Testes were obtained from 17 to 21 days old embryos and from 1 to 5 days old offsprings. Cryostat sections were cut and processed for enzymhistochemical reaction of 3 beta-HSDH, employing dehydroepiandrosterone as substrate. The areas of the Leydig cells, showing the enzymatic activity, were measured morphometrically. The 3 beta-HSDH positive intertubular Leydig cells appear on 17 f.d., and grow further showing a maximum peak, relative to the size of the testis, on 19 f.d. Thereafter, the percentage of the Leydig cells relative to the size of the testis decreases continuously up to 4 p.n.d.. The Leydig cells did not regress during the period of observation. Postnatally, the large complexes disperse into many small complexes.
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