[Pathological study of testicular injury induced by high power microwave radiation in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the pathological characteristics and the dynamic change regularity of the testis induced by high power microwave (HPM) radiation.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty-five male Wistar rats were exposed to 0, 3, 10, 30 and 100 mW/cm2 HPM radiation for five minutes, and changes of testicular morphology and teratogenic ratio of epididymal spermatozoa were observed through light microscope and electron microscope at 6 h, 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 90 d after radiation.


RESULTS
Injury of testicular spermatogenic cells in rats might be induced by 3 to approximately 100 mW/cm2 HPM radiation, and the main pathological changes were degeneration, necrosis, shedding of spermatogenic cells, formation of multinuclear giant cells, decrease or loss of sperm and interstitial edema. Injury of spermatogenic cells underwent such phases as death and shedding, cavitation, regeneration and repair, characterized by being focalized, inhomogenous and phased. And the severity of pathological changes of the testis increased with power density. There was only scattered degeneration, necrosis, shedding of spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubule one day after 3 mW/cm2 radiation, and the pathological changes six hours after 10 mW/cm2 radiation was similar to those one day after 3 mW/cm2 radiation, but with the formation of multinuclear giant cells, and the above-mentioned pathological changes aggravated from one day to seven days after radiation. There was a significant increase in degeneration, necrosis, shedding of spermatogenic cells, as well as a significant decrease in spermatozoa and focal necrosis in simple seminiferous tubules six hours after 30 and 100 mW/cm2 radiation, and the subsequent changes were similar to those of 10 mW/cm2 radiation. There was a significant increase in teratogenic ratio of epididymal spermatozoa at 3 d, 1 to approximately 7 d, 6 h to approximately 7 d after 3, 10, 30 and 100 mW/cm2 microwave radiation respectively (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
HPM radiation may cause injury of testicular spermatogenic cells in rats, which has a positive correlation to radiation dosage and time.
Wang
Shui-ming
SM
Institute of Radiation Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Science, Beijing. 100850, China. Smwang864@yahoo.com.cn
Peng
Rui-yun
RY
Gao
Ya-bing
YB
Ma
Jun-jie
JJ
Chen
Hao-yu
HY
Zhou
Hong-mei
HM
Hu
Wen-hua
WH
Zhang
De-tian
DT
Wang
De-wen
DW
D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects