Radiation- and chemical-induced structural chromosome aberrations in human spermatozoa.
Previous studies on the clastogenic effects of mutagens on human sperm chromosomes were reviewed. A marked increase of structural chromosome aberrations (SCAs) has been reported in the spermatozoa irradiated in vitro with five kinds of ionizing radiation (137Cs gamma-, 60Co gamma-, X-, and 3H beta-rays and 252Cf neutrons). The micronucleus (MN) test with hybrid two-cell embryos generated from human sperm and hamster oocytes was shown to be useful as a simple and rapid method for assessing the effects of radiation. Radiosensitivity of human spermatozoa was highest, being followed by golden hamster, Chinese hamster and mouse spermatozoa. Chromosome-damaging effects were also found with some chemicals (bleomycin, daunomycin, methyl methanesulfonate, triethylenemelamine, neocarzinostatin, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitorosoguanidine and mitomycin C (MMC)), but not with other chemicals (urethane, nitrobenzene, dioxin, cyclophosphamide (CP), benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)). The clastogenicity of chemical metabolites was confirmed for CP and BP, by using the S9-based metabolic activation system. The results of sperm chromosome analysis from cancer patients who had undergone radio- and/or chemotherapy were contradictory among investigators and further studies are necessary. The importance of mutagenicity testing with human spermatozoa is discussed.
Kamiguchi
Yujiroh
Y
Department of Biological Sciences, Asahikawa Medical College, 2-1-1-1 Midorigaoka-higashi, Asahikawa, Japan. yujiroh@asahikawa-med.ac.jp
Tateno
Hiroyuki
H
D000782:Aneuploidy; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000532:radiotherapy; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*