ON FINE STRUCTURE OF LEYDIG CELLS IN JANUARY AND MAY SPECIMENS OF LACERTA SICULA RAF

In order to study the ultrastructure of the Leydig cells in the lizard Lacerta s. siculaRaf., the AA. examined two groups of animals, namely: January specimens in hibernation and May specimens in the mating period. In the animals of the first group, the Leydig cells were scarce, small and possessed a poorly developed E.R. and small mitochondria usually presenting laminar cristae. In the specimens of the second group the interstitial cells were large and possessed a very well developed smooth E.R. arranged in a system of anastomosing tubules and vesicles; the mitochondria were numerous and large, with prevailingly tubular cristae and often with a discontinuous wall. Lipid droplets and lysosomes were also present. The observation on the ultrastructure of the Leydig cells in May specimens of Lacerta s. siculaRaf`. seems to confirm the opinion that these elements participate in the metabolism of the sexual steroids; in fact they possess ultrastructural features that are typical of steroidogenetic cells. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.