Relative morphological abnormalities of sperm in the caudal epididymis of high- and low-dose-rate gamma-irradiated ICR mice.
This study evaluated the effects of low dose radiation on spermatogenic cells using the morphological characteristics of sperm in the caudal epididymis of ICR mice. In this study, six abnormal sperm shapes (amorphous heads, blunt hooks, excessive hooks, two heads and tails, folded tails and short tails) were observed at eight days after gamma-irradiation ((137)Cs, 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 Gy) with both a high-dose-rate (0.8 Gy/min) and a low-dose-rate (0.7 mGy/hr). Fewer abnormal forms of sperm were observed in low-dose-rate irradiated mice than in mice that received a high-dose-rate irradiation (P = 0.002). The ratio of the dose rate effect among low-dose-rate irradiated mice to high-dose-rate irradiated mice was approximately 0.6. In addition, sperm with blunt hooks and two heads and tails significantly increased in number after irradiation, potentially providing an endpoint marker for estimating the effects of radiation. This study suggests that low-dose-rate (0.7 mGy/hr) radiation does not damage stem spermatogonia and probably stimulates repair in damaged spermatogonial stem cells in male mice.
Shin
Suk Chul
SC
Radiation Health Research Institute, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., 388-1 Ssangmun-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Kang
Yu Mi
YM
Jin
Young Woo
YW
Kim
Hee Sun
HS
D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004822:Epididymis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000528:radiation effects