Bismuth uptake in rat testicular macrophages: a follow-up observation suggesting that bismuth alters interactions between testicular macrophages and Leydig cells. |
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Authors: | Meredin Stoltenberg James C Hutson |
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Affiliation: | Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. ms@neuro.au.dk |
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Abstract: | Recent studies suggest that bismuth accumulates in Leydig cells. In addition, a reduced level of serum testosterone and a statistically significant reduction of Leydig cells have been observed. It was therefore hypothesized that Bi has a direct toxic effect on rat Leydig cells. We have now developed a method for double labeling of bismuth and ED-2 (a marker for testicular macrophages). The present data demonstrate that the heavily bismuth-loaded cells in rat testis, originally interpreted as being Leydig cells, are bismuth-loaded macrophages. Consequently, our data suggest a modified hypothesis regarding bismuth-induced interactions between testicular macrophages and Leydig cells. |
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