A young testicular microenvironment protects Leydig cells against age‐related dysfunction in a mouse model of premature aging

What is it about?

In men, Leydig cells found in the testicles are responsible for producing testosterone. As men age, the Leydig cells become less efficient at producing testosterone. Reduced testosterone production in ageing men is particularly important because testosterone is required to keep many parts of the body healthy and low levels of testosterone have been linked to an increased risk of developing health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the reasons why the testicles become less efficient during ageing and disease are unclear, making the development of new treatments to promote testicle function difficult. To expand our understanding of the causes of age-related testicular decline, we used a series of new mouse models of premature ageing which were designed to limit 'ageing' to specific cells in the testicles. These models enabled the contribution of different types of cells to the overall function of the testicles to be assessed. We found that the decline in testosterone production in premature ageing mice was not explained by ageing within the testosterone producing Leydig cells themselves. Instead, changes to the local environment inside the testicle where the Leydig cells are found, or wider effects of ageing in the body, is likely the reason they become less efficient as they age.

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