[High power microwave radiation damages blood-testis barrier in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of high power microwave (HPM) radiation on the structure and function of blood-testis barrier (BTB) in rats.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty-six male Wistar rats were treated by heart perfusion of lanthanum-glutaraldehyde solution and tail vein injection of evans blue (EB) at 6 h, 1, 3, 7 and 14 d after exposed to 0, 10, 30 and 100 mW/cm2 HPM radiation for 5 minutes, the structural change of BTB and distribution of lanthanum or EB observed through the light microscope, electron microscope and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM).


RESULTS
Testicular interstitial edema, vascular congestion or hyperemia with accumulation of plasma proteins and red blood cells in the inner compartment of seminiferous tubules were observed after exposure to HPM. The above-mentioned pathological changes were aggravated at 1-7 d and relieved at 14 d after radiation, obviously more severe in the 30 and 100 mW/cm2 exposure groups than in the 10 mW/cm2. Both lanthanum precipitation and EB were deposited in the inner compartment.


CONCLUSIONS
HPM radiation may damage the structure and increase the permeability of BTB.
Gao
Xiao-Fang
XF
Institute of Radiation Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
Wang
Shui-Ming
SM
Peng
Rui-Yun
RY
Gao
Ya-Bing
YB
Li
Xiang
X
Dong
Hong-Yan
HY
Ma
Jun-Jie
JJ
D000818:Animals; D001814:Blood-Testis Barrier / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar