RESPONSE OF TESTICULAR MACROPHAGES TO EDS-INDUCED LEYDIG-CELL DEATH

The response of testicular macrophages to massive Leydig cell death wa s studied by the administration of the specific Leydig cell cytotoxic ethylene dimethane sulphonate (EDS) to sham-operated (SO), short-term (STHX), and long-term (LTHX) hypophysectomized rats. EDS-killed Leydig cells showed the morphological features of the programmed cell death or apoptosis. A 2-fold increase in the number of macrophages was found on days 1-2 after treatment in both SO and STHX rats, and dead Leydig cells were completely eliminated by day 3 after treatment. Otherwise, in LTHX rats, there was a delay in the increase in the number of macr ophages, and EDS-killed Leydig cells remained in the testicular inters titium for several days. These results indicate that the phagocytic ca pacity of the macrophage population was diminished in hypophysectomize d rats, and particularly after long-term hypophysectomy.