Sperm maturation associated with subfertility following hyperbaric exposure of mice.
Mice exposed to 50 ATA heliox pressure during one spermatogenic cycle subsequently exhibit subfertility which can recover over an 8-wk period. This study was designed to investigate the changes in spermatid and testicular histology associated with these phenomena. Electron microscopy of testicular tissue from hyperbaric-exposed animals revealed a significant effect on spermatogenesis including disorganization and patchy necrosis of the epithelium. Two weeks after exposure to pressure, abnormalities were more difficult to find and tissues taken from animals 8 wk after exposure were indistinguishable from normal. These data directly confirm our earlier hypothesis that chronic hyperbaric exposure has a deleterious effect on sperm maturation, which is subsequently manifest as a failure in fertilizing capacity.
D000818:Animals; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013079:Sperm Maturation; D013737:Testis / Q000648:ultrastructure