G. Werner et K. Moutairou, INTERSTITIAL-TISSUE IN THE TESTIS OF THE GIANT RAT, CRICETOMYS GAMBIANUS, Journal of submicroscopic cytology and pathology, 30(4), 1998, pp. 537-543
Besides Leydig cells macrophages form considerable part of the interst
itial tissue in the giant rat, Cricetomys gambianus. Leydig cells cont
ain bundles of usually six io twelve parallel tubes with walls of long
itudinal layers alternating with circular layers of microfilaments. Po
lyribosomes, both free and membrane bound, are concentrated around or
inside the tubes. The tubes may enclose mitochondria and microperoxiso
mes as well. The light cytosol of the macrophages is dotted with elect
ron-dense 5-nm particles which might be ferritin. Specific contacts ex
ist between Leydig cells and macrophages indicating a functional inter
dependence between these two cell types.