Effects of pre-exposure of mouse testis with low-dose (16)O8+ ions or 60Co gamma-rays on sperm shape abnormalities, lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity induced by subsequent high-dose irradiation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of pre-exposure of mouse testis with low-doses of (16)O8+ ions or 60Co gamma-rays on sperm shape abnormalities, lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity induced by subsequent high-dose irradiation.


METHODS
Testes of the B6C3F1 hybrid strain mice were pre-irradiated with 0.05 Gy of (16)O8+ ions or 60Co gamma-rays and then after 4 h given a test irradiation with 2 Gy of the same radiation type. SOD activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the testes were determined by spectrophotometric and TBA methods respectively at 4 h after irradiation. Testis weight, sperm count and sperm morphology were analysed at day 35 after irradiation.


RESULTS
Compared with controls, there was a significant increase in SOD activity and a significant decrease in TBARS level of pretreated testes. Testis weight loss, sperm count reduction and sperm abnormalities were significantly lower in the pretreated testes. The bioeffects of a 2 Gy dose of (16)O8+ ions relative to 60Co gamma-rays were 1.84 +/- 0.28 for testis weight, 1.22 +/- 0.25 for sperm count and 1.29 +/- 0.10 for sperm abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that pre-exposure of testes with a low dose of heavy ions or gamma-rays renders the organ more resistant to subsequent high-dose irradiation. The increase of SOD activity and the decrease of lipid peroxidation levels induced by low-dose ionizing irradiation may be involved in this resistance. The effects with heavy ion irradiation were greater than with gamma-rays.
Zhang
H
H
Department of Application of Heavy Ions, Institute of Modern Physics, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou.
Zheng
R L
RL
Wei
Z Q
ZQ
Li
W J
WJ
Gao
Q X
QX
Chen
W Q
WQ
Wang
Z H
ZH
He
J
J
Liang
J P
JP
Han
G W
GW
Huang
T
T
Li
Q
Q
Xie
H M
HM
Zhang
S M
SM
Cai
X C
XC
D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007477:Ions; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000528:radiation effects*
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D007477:Ions; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010100:Oxygen