Azoospermia of dogs with apoptotic germ cells and Leydig cells

Apoptotic cell death in the testes of 4 dogs with azoospermia was examined. Blood plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), and estradiol-17 beta (E-2) concentrations, and testicular transferrin (Tf) concentration as a marker of Sertoli cell function were measured in the 4 azoospermic dogs and in 5 normal dogs. The spermatids in 2 of the 4 azoospermic dogs and the Leydig cells in 3 of them exhibited apoptotic cell death. Mean LH, E-2, an d Tf concentrations in the 4 azoospermic dogs were significantly higher tha n in the normal dogs (P<0.01). These findings suggested that the azoospermi a in all 4 dogs might has been caused by abnormal functions of Sertoli cell s as well as Leydig cells.