title: Radiolabeling of mammalian spermatozoa and their use to monitor sperm transport in females.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes; D007204:Indium; D013667:Technetium