The Neuroendocrine Leydig Cells and their Stem Cell Progenitors, the Pericytes

• Main Authors: Davidoff, Michail S. (Author), Middendorff, Ralf (Author), Müller, D. (Author), Holstein, Adolf F. (Author)
• Corporate Author: SpringerLink (Online service)
• Format: Electronic eBook
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2009.
• Series: Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology, 205
• Subjects: Medicine.; Endocrinology.; Biomedicine.; Biomedicine general.

The Leydig cells of the testis represent the main source of androgens. The idea of Leydig cells as endocrine cells has been the leading characteristic of this interesting cell population till now. Our studies of the last 2 decades allowed us to reveal a new important feature of Leydig cells that is...

Table of Contents:

• History of and Recent Progress in Leydig Cell Research
• Morphology of the Leydig Cells
• The Well-Known Endocrine Function of the Leydig Cells
• The Neuroendocrine Properties of the Leydig Cells
• Development of the Testis
• Development of the Neuroendocrine Leydig Cells
• Fetal and Adult Leydig Cells Are of Common Orig
• Concluding Remarks.