B. Bilinska et Ja. Litwin, IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF PEROXISOMES IN CULTURED LEYDIG-CELLS - A DECREASE IN TESTOSTERONE SECRETION PRECEDES REDUCTION OF PEROXISOMES, European journal of histochemistry, 39(4), 1995, pp. 273-280
Peroxisomes were visualized in primary cultures of mouse Leydig cells
by light microscopic immunocytochemical demonstration of catalase and
two enzymes of peroxisomal lipid beta-oxidation: acyl-CoA oxidase and
3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase. Immunofluorescent peroxisomes had the form of
granules, rods or short tubules located in the cytoplasm of Leydig ce
lls. The amount of peroxisomes in the cells and the intensity of their
fluorescence was similar irrespective of the antibody used. On days 2
and 4 of the culture, most Leydig cells contained very numerous, dens
ely packed peroxisomes. On days 6 and 8, their number and fluorescence
intensity gradually decreased. The parallel measurements of testoster
one concentration in the culture medium revealed a sharp decline of an
drogen production between days 1 and 4 of the culture. The observed pr
ecedence of the decrease in testosterone production in relation to red
uction of the peroxisome number suggests that a decrease in testostero
ne level or factors regulating androgen synthesis may influence degrad
ation of peroxisomes.