The Effect of Testicular Damage on Sertoli and Leydig Cell Function

Heat, irradiation, several groups of drugs and vitamin A deficiency may all disrupt sperm production. Despite the damage caused by these agents, Sertoli and Leydig cells appear normal to examination by light microscopy, and for this reason it has been assumed that these cells are resistant to damage, and are thus more robust than germ cells. However, the availability of relatively simple techniques for the measurement of testosterone, and the discovery that androgen-binding protein (ABP) is a product of the Sertoli cell, has made it possible to study the function of Leydig and Sertoli cells during the actions of agents known to disrupt spermatogenesis. These studies have shown substantial modifications to Leydig and Sertoli cell function in association with damage to the seminiferous epithelium.