Isolation of Primary Leydig Cells from Murine Testis

In males, Leydig cells are the primary source of testosterone, which is necessary for testis development, masculinization, and spermatogenesis. Leydig cells are a valuable cellular model for basic research; thus, it is important to develop an improved method for isolation and purification of Leydig cells from testes. The available methods for Leydig cell isolation have some drawbacks, including the need for sophisticated instruments, high cost, tediousness, and time consumption. Here, we describe an improved protocol for isolation of primary Leydig cells from testicular tissue by digestion with collagenase IV.

Automated summary

In this study, an improved protocol for isolating primary Leydig cells from testicular tissue by digestion with collagenase IV is described. This method overcomes drawbacks of available methods, such as the need for sophisticated instruments, high cost, tediousness, and time consumption.