Short communication The intertubular compartment morphometry in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) testis

The aim of the present study was to characterize the intertubule element volume density, individual and total Leydig cells volume, Leydig cell number per testis and per gram of testis, and leydigosomatic index in adult capybaras. Eight capybaras from a commercial abattoir were utilized. The intertubular compartment volume density and the Leydig cells were 45.2 and 31.13%, respectively. The individual and total Leydig cell volumes were 8.51 and 2169.41 × 10 −12 mL, respectively. The Leydig cell number per testis was 3.8 billion and the Leydig cell number per gram of testis was 126 million. The leydigosomatic index was 0.037%. In conclusion, this study shows that capybaras have one of the greatest individual and total Leydig cell volume and Leydig cell volume density, and that the Leydig cell number per gram of testis is at least double the mean for mammals previously investigated in its order. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.