Histochemical observations on the interstitial gland (or Leydig) cells of the lizard testis

Abstract

A histochemical study has been made of the interstitial gland cells in the testis of lizards ( Varanus bengalensis and Mabuya macularica (Blyth). In testes showing little spermatogenic activity, the interstitial gland cells form large, compact masses lying between the small seminiferous tubules. But at the height of spermatogenesis they are dispersed by tubule expansion and thus appear to be few. The interstitial gland cells of lizard testis develop the histochemical features of well established steroid-producing cells. These histochemical features are the presence of diffuse sudanophilic lipoproteins and deeply sudanophilic lipid droplets consisting of either phospholipids, or phospholipids and triglycerides, or triglycerides, cholesterol and its esters, and some phospholipids. The functional significance of these histochemical features has been discussed in the light of recent researches carried out on the steroid-secreting cells in the mammalian ovary and testis. These comparisons have suggested that the interstitial gland cells of the lizard testis are the steroid secretors.