Leydig cells

Looks like

Small clusters of cells in the tissue between the seminiferous tubules of the testis.

What it does

Make testosterone under the control of pituitary hormones.

Keeping it well

Taking testosterone or anabolic steroids shuts them down and shrinks the testes; low drive and fatigue with low testosterone on a morning blood test need a cause found.

Related conditions

• Adrenal insufficiency (Addison's)
• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• Early puberty (precocious puberty)
• Epididymitis and orchitis
• Hydrocele
• Hyperthyroidism & Graves' disease
• Hypothyroidism
• Klinefelter syndrome (XXY)
• Male hypogonadism
• Male infertility
• Menopause & perimenopause
• Mumps
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Postnatal depression
• Testicular cancer
• Testicular torsion
• Type 1 diabetes
• Undescended testis (cryptorchidism)
• Varicocele