Effects of testicular irradiation on stem cell survival, hormonal environment and spermatogenic cells in Wistar rats.
Adult male Wistar rats were exposed to 3.0 Gy local testicular irradiation. Testes of irradiated and non-irradiated rats were examined histologically and flow cytometrically, at several intervals up to 78 days after irradiation. Concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone determined at these intervals were not different from those of controls. The survival of stem cells were measured 11 weeks after irradiation (with doses varying from 1.0 Gy to 6.0 Gy at 0.6 Gy/min) by means of the repopulation index and by the number of haploid cells (spermatids). Correlation between both methods and relation to stem cell survival were discussed. The dose response curves yielded D0 values of stem cell survival of 2.33 +/- 0.06 Gy (repopulation index) and 2.08 +/- 0.08 Gy (number of haploid cells). The D0 value of the rat was not much different from that found in mice. It was concluded that the used parameters can offer insight when studying hormonal substances during irradiation.
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000528:radiation effects*