I've been googling this simple question but just get a lot crap.  What I'm trying to find out is exactly what part of the testicles produce testosterone.  There must be a specific type of tissue inside the testicle that produces it.  There is all kinds of information on how, what and where sperm is made but nothing specific on testosterone.  Hopefully there are some people here with some expertise on this.

QuoteThe FDA classifies the hormone as a controlled substance, so it's more tightly regulated than, say, Viagra. Testosterone products sold over the Internet are not reliable.

lol The information you seek is CLASSIFIED, all WMD (weapons of mass destruction) inquires will be investigated! The current authoritarian regime insists ALL OF US (including so-called 'males') be 'femqual' so just be a good girl and take your estrogen.

Good friend of mine requested 'removed gonads' be returned to her in a glass formaldehyde jar . . .

Should I ask if still avail for dissection? 

( Upon own search found one explain here:  boundless.com/biology/the-endocrine-system/endocrine-glands/pineal-gland-and-gonads/ )

the biology lesson said it's produced by the leidig cells of testicles. they are found in the tissue that fills the space outside the seminiferous tubules. leutenizin hormone from pitutary gland stimulates its secretion, and sertolli cells in seminiferous tubules produce inhibin hormone which inhibits the secretion. hope that information helped you, and hope my memory serves right. in case it served wrong, you can go look up leidig cells

  Along these lines, I've been wondering what exactly it is about HRT that shrinks and disables the testicles.  Is it a direct hormonal effect or is there a chain-effect from other parts of the system resulting from the hormone balance shift?

again according to the biology lesson, one function of testosterone is the stimulation and regulation of growth, development and maintenance of male reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics. so i guess, without the right amount of T the organs do not get proper care and shrink maybe, or maybe estrogen has some effect on it as well.
edit: disabling of course, T is required for the regulation and stimulation of sperm production, so lack of T is quite probably the reason

Quote from: YBtheOutlaw on January 04, 2014, 10:37:06 AM
the biology lesson said it's produced by the leidig cells of testicles. they are found in the tissue that fills the space outside the seminiferous tubules. leutenizin hormone from pitutary gland stimulates its secretion, and sertolli cells in seminiferous tubules produce inhibin hormone which inhibits the secretion. hope that information helped you, and hope my memory serves right. in case it served wrong, you can go look up leidig cells

Thanks for the posting that.  My google searches never mentioned that.  Now I'll bet those cells are pretty delicate and easy to damage. 

Actually, its not just luetinizing hornone that dies that, that helps trigger with FSH, follicle stimulating hormone- there are follicles that trigger that (not hair follicles either lol)- its why part of the femalecycle is called follicular, but asside from that, correct. They work in conjunction for proper gonadal secretion/creation of hormones. FSH plays a deeper trigger role in creation of spermatazoa as well- in the male body- just like in the female body it helps trigger creation and formation of the egg.  Take a peak next time you get your labs- ten dollars says if you are mtf and on estrogen, your fsh and lh will be really low. That means no creation of testosterone in any significant amount is being done, and as well, dht isnt being formed  

A few years ago I read a lot about the effects of anti-androgens, and also estrogen on the testis at the cellular level. I came away with the conclusion that anti-androgens do not permanently damage leydig cells, but estrogens do. Various studies looked at the long-term effects of HRT on the testis of Trans individuals. Other effects on testis were also studied in cases where anti-androgens were used to treat prostate cancer. I'm not saying that short term exposure to estrogen will destroy all leydig cells, but long term exposure with estrogen HRT could easily lead to non functioning testis. That is not necessarily a bad thing.     

Quote from: Violet Bloom on January 04, 2014, 10:52:58 AM
  Along these lines, I've been wondering what exactly it is about HRT that shrinks and disables the testicles.  Is it a direct hormonal effect or is there a chain-effect from other parts of the system resulting from the hormone balance shift?

It varies depending on the medication.

Medication such as Triptorellin acetate mimic the effect of inhibin. causing the Pituitary to request less testosterone. Cross Gender hormones also have this effect as pituitary glands are unisex it doesn't care which it gets exposed to.
Others like Spiro and cyprotone interfere with the the bodies ability to make testostersone by playing around with the enzymes involved in steroidogensis.

Quote from: Amy1988 on January 04, 2014, 12:20:26 PM
Thanks for the posting that.  My google searches never mentioned that.  Now I'll bet those cells are pretty delicate and easy to damage.

they can be damaged, but they are located in the deepest most central part of the testicle....well protected...and damaged testicles can be resilient at times

there are specific substances that are extremely toxic to leydig cells such as ethanol and acetylaldehide....but heavy drinking damages a lot of other parts too. 

Ethanol has been applied to animal testicles via injection as an effective means of castration, and it's been shown to work on humans, proposed as a possible less invasive means of orchiectomy.....it's been done as self castration by some, but there are cases where serious adverse reactions occured