| Leydig cell is an important endocrine cell and responsible for androgen production. It is well known that androgen plays a crucial role in male. As reported, it not only stimulates the development of the male reproductive organ and maintains its function, but also improves the protein synthesis and cell generation. Recently, many people investigated morphological character, function, regulation, development, differentiation and the like of Leydig cells in Human and other kinds. However, the changes of structure, function, correlative hormone regulation of Leydig cell from neonatal to aging has not been reported. Then, we investigated the structure, expression of LH, AR, ER in Leydig cell and the level of T, LH, FSH in serum, by electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay methods.The experiment materials were 60 SD rats, age from neonatal to postnatal 25 months. There are neonatal, 1 week postnatal, 2 weeks postnatal, 3 weeks postnatal, 1 months postnatal, 2 months postnatal, 3 months postnatal, 6 months postnatal, 12 months postnatal and 25 months postnatal ten groups. The results of the experiments were analyzed with the software of Microsoft Excel in computer. The results were as follows:1. From neonatal to postnatal 1 week, the average area of Leydig cell increased prominently, but there were no significant changes from postnatal 2 weeks to postnatal 1 month. At postnatal 2 months, the average area of Leydig cell increased slightly and reached its peak. While it decreased from postnatal 3 months to postnatal 25 months.2. From neonatal to postnatal 3 weeks, there were no significant changes in average area density of Leydig cell. At postnatal 1 month, the average area density increased prominently, while there were no significant changes from postnatal 1 month to postnatal 3 months. At postnatal 6 months, the average area density decreased prominently, but it increased at postnatal 12 months, and maintained to postnatal 25 months.3. From postnatal 3 weeks to postnatal 6 months, there were no significant changes in serum T level. While at postnatal 12 months, the T level of serumdecreased prominently. In addition, there were no significant changes in serum LH, FSH levels from postnatal 3 weeks to postnatal 12 months.4. From neonatal to postnatal 1 month, there were no significant changes in the positive expression of LH. At postnatal 2 months, the positive expression of LH decreased prominently. While it increased from postnatal 2 months to postnatal 25 months, and at postnatal 25 months, it increased prominently.5. From neonatal to postnatal 3 weeks, the positive expression of AR in Leydig cell decreased prominently. At postnatal 1 month, the positive expression of AR in Leydig cell increased significantly; While at postnatal2 months, it decreased prominently. Afterwards, it increased gradually from postnatal 2 months to postnatal 25 months.6. From neonatal to postnatal 2 weeks, the positive expression of ER in Leydig cell decreased slightly. At postnatal 1 month, it increased prominently. And at postnatal 2 months, the positive expression of ER decreased and reached its minimum at postnatal 3 months. While from postnatal 6 months, the positive expression of ER increased and at postnatal 25 months, it increased prominently.Conclusions:1. There were typical Leydig cells in neonatal rats. From birth to preadolescence, there were no significant changes in structure of Leydig cells. When in postnatal 1 month, Leydig cell started to develop. And at postnatal3 months, Leydig cell became mature. Meanwhile the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria increased prominently, but there were hardly any lipid droplet in Leydig cell. From postnatal 6 months to postnatal 25 months, Leydig cell was degenerating. And at postnatal 25 months, there were so many Leydig cells which were small.2. In neonatal rats, the Leydig cell had the ability to secrete the testosterone. But according to so many lipid droplets, the secretory power should be low. At postnatal 3 months, Leydig cell...
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