Radiolabeling of mammalian spermatozoa and their use to monitor sperm transport in females.
Radiolabeling of mammalian spermatozoa with 131I, 67Ga, 111In, and 99mTc was investigated. Spermatozoa were labeled with 99mTc for in vivo studies because of a high labeling yield (70 to 90%) combined with the lack of impairment of sperm motility. Ovariectomized sheep were brought into estrus by sequential administration of progesterone and estradiol cyprionate. Sheep were necropsied up to 6 hours after insemination with 99mTc-labeled ram sperm and their reproductive tracts were resected and examined with a rectilinear scanner. Radioactivity was clearly observed in the fallopian tubes, with larger amounts in the vaginas, cervices, and uteri. In contrast, when 99mTc-spermatozoa were replaced with 99mTcO4-, much less radioactivity remained in the reproductive tract at resection and this was evenly distributed. Some label left the 99mTc-spermatozoa in vivo, but radioactivity remained on the cells long enough to consider attempting to monitor sperm transport in vivo in a suitable species.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007204:Indium; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007553:Isotope Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012756:Sheep; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000528:radiation effects; D013083:Sperm Transport; D013552:Swine; D013667:Technetium
D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes; D007204:Indium; D013667:Technetium