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Summary We studied the testes of 90, two year-old male albino rats. In 27 animals string-like hyperplasia of the Leydig cells were found. 49 animals showed nodular or adenomatous proliferation in one or both testes. The size varied ranging from microscopically detectable lesions to others which occupied the entire testis. We refer to them as adenomata of the Leydig cells. Malignant lesions were not found. In our experience the changes were not present in animals up to one year of age. No definite conclusions can be made as to the origin of these adenomata. At the moment, however, we would like to hypothesise that they are due initially to a process induced by the pituitary and that afterwards their growth becomes autonomous. Apart from the tumour-like changes in the Leydig cells, atrophic changes in the germinal epithelium were also present, which, however, appeared also in the young animals in the same form. |
