title: Effects of environmental radiation on testes and spermatogenesis in wild large Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus) from Fukushima.
abstract: The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident that occurred after the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 released large quantities of radionuclides to the environment. The long-term effects of radioactive cesium (Cs) on biota are of particular concern. We investigated the accumulation of radioactive Cs derived from the FDNPP accident, and chronic effects of environmental radionuclides on male reproduction, in the large Japanese field mouse (Apodemus speciosus). In 2013 and 2014, wild mice were captured at 2 sites in Fukushima Prefecture and at 2 control sites that were distant from Fukushima. Although the median concentrations of (134)Cs and (137)Cs in the mice from Fukushima exceeded 4,000 Bq/kg, there were no significant differences in the apoptotic cell frequencies or the frequencies of morphologically abnormal sperm among the capture sites. Thus, we conclude that radiation did not cause substantial male subfertility in Fukushima during 2013 and 2014, and radionuclide pollution levels in the study sites would not be detrimental to spermatogenesis of the wild mice in Fukushima.
authors.affiliation: Ecological Genetics Analysis Section, Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.affiliation: Ecological Genetics Analysis Section, Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishiniwa
authors.affiliation: Ecological Genetics Analysis Section, Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onuma
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Wildlife Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Higashi 23-35-1, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan.
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shindo
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama, Toyama 930-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokohata
authors.affiliation: Ecological Genetics Analysis Section, Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamaoki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive