Increase of methionine-aminopeptidase activity in hyperplastic Leydig cells of rat cryptorchid testis.

In order to elucidate the reasons for the increased methionine-aminopeptidase activity in the rat cryptorchid testis, a histochemical study was conducted on the changes in testicular aminopeptidase activities using various substrates after the cryptorchidism experimentally was induced with reference to the regenerated hepatic cells which appeared in the partially hepatectomized liver of rat. Methionine-aminopeptidase gradually increased in Leydig cells after cryptorchid was induced, whereas the enzyme activity decreased in regenerated hepatic cells. These histochemical observations were coincident with the data obtained by enzyme assay. The present study has clearly indicated that the increased methionine aminopeptidase activity was specific for hyperplastic and hypertrophic Leydig cells in the cryptorchid testis, but did not depend merely on cell hyperplasia.