Effects of X-irradiation on mouse testicular cells and sperm chromatin structure.
The testicular regions of male mice were exposed to x-ray doses ranging from 0 to 400 rads. Forty days after exposure the mice were killed and the testes and cauda epididymal sperm removed surgically. Flow cytometric measurements of acridine orange stained testicular samples indicated a repopulation of testicular cell types following x-ray killing of stem cells. Cauda epididymal sperm were analyzed by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), a flow cytometric measurement of the susceptibility of the sperm nuclear DNA to in situ acid denaturation. The SCSA detected increased susceptibility to DNA denaturation in situ after 12.5 rads of x-ray exposure, with significant increases following 25 rads. Abnormal sperm head morphology was not significantly increased until the testes were exposed to 60 rads of x-rays. These data suggest that the SCSA is currently the most sensitive, non-invasive method of detecting x-ray damage to testicular stem spermatogonia.
Sailer
B L
BL
South Dakota State University, Olson Biochemistry Laboratories, Brookings 57007.
Jost
L K
LK
Erickson
K R
KR
Tajiran
M A
MA
Evenson
D P
DP
D000165:Acridine Orange; D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009929:Organ Size / Q000528:radiation effects; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000528:radiation effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014965:X-Rays
D002843:Chromatin; D000165:Acridine Orange