title: Flow cytometry evaluation of lead and cadmium effects on mouse spermatogenesis.
abstract: Flow cytometry (FCM) is a powerful tool to evaluate cell DNA content and ploidy levels. We have assessed the accuracy of two protocols of nuclei isolation from paraffinized samples (P1 and P2) by comparing FCM results with those obtained using fresh material (F1-F3). After isolation, nuclei were stained with propidium iodide and quantitatively analysed by FCM for changes in germ cell ratios. Results obtained with Protocol P2 were similar to those obtained using the protocol that gave best results for fresh tissues (F2). Protocol P2 was then applied to paraffin embedded testicular samples from ICR-CD1 mice exposed to 1, 2 and 3 mg CdCl(2)/kg bw by single subcutaneous injection, and to 74 and 100 mg PbCl(2)/kg bw administered in four repeated doses. The highest doses of CdCl(2) decreased the number of haploid (1C) cells and increased the number of diploid (2C), S phase and tetraploid (4C) cells. Treatment with PbCl(2) did not induce significant changes in testicular cells subpopulations. These results support the usefulness of FCM in evaluating the effect of toxic substances on mouse spermatogenesis, using both fresh and paraffinized material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitario de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.forename: Luísa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Filipe
authors.forename: Conceição
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramalho-Santos
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Maria de Lourdes
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011003:Ploidies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; C029891:lead chloride; D019256:Cadmium Chloride