Figure 2
From: Little effects of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I on testicular atrophy induced by hypoxia
Microscopy of testes (× 100 magnification, Masson's stain). Testicular histological section of normal rat (CO) demonstrating active spermatogenesis in normal-size seminiferous tubuli with thin basement membranes and minimal peritubular fibrosis. Leydig cells are scarce, being widely separated by seminiferous tubuli. Seminiferous tubuli in testes from untreated animals with testicular atrophy (AT) appear seriously damaged. These animals show a decrease of tubular diameter, vacuolization in germinal epithelium, lost of germinal line, total reduction of spermatogenesis. AT rats treated with IGF-I (AT+IGF) show a significant improvement of all these alterations, although partial.