(56)Fe ion irradiation induced apoptosis through Nrf2 pathway in mouse testis.
The phenomenon has raised the concerns about the safety of an extended manned mission into deep space due to the high potential for exposure to high-LET radiation during space missions. Heavy ions such as (56)Fe are main radiation sources in deep space, which could pose a significant hazard to space flight crews during and after missions. Since the testis is a radiosensitive organ, which may be susceptible to space radiation-induced changes. In this study, we investigated the effect and potential mechanisms of (56)Fe irradiation on mouse testis. Pathological characteristics were measured following whole-body irradiation with 0.5 and 1Gy (56)Fe irradiation. Flow cytometry and terminal dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) were performed to detect apoptotic cells. Western blot was applied to identify potential biomarkers. Immunofluorescence was used to investigate protein localization. We found that pathologic changes and apoptosis cells were significantly higher in 1Gy group than those in 0Gy groups. In addition, protein expression and localization studies confirmed Nrf2 was involved in this acute injury. Nrf2 and its target genes HO-1 and NQO1 were up-regulated in the irradiated testis in a dose-dependent manner. Nrf2 may be useful molecular markers in radiation-induced cellular responses and is important for detecting abnormal spermatogenesis following exposure to space radiation.
Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, PR China.
Qiuyue
Q
Zhao
Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Institute of Gansu Medical Science Research, Lanzhou 730050, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, PR China.
Aihong
A
Mao
Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, PR China.
Jiawei
J
Yan
Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
Jing
J
Si
Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
Rong
R
Zhou
Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
Lu
L
Gan
Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
Yang
Y
Liu
Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, PR China. Electronic address: zhangh@impcas.ac.cn.
Hong
H
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D003359:Cosmic Radiation; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007504:Iron Radioisotopes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D007504:Iron Radioisotopes; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C495636:Nfe2l2 protein, mouse; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D020169:Caspases
(56)Fe ion irradiation; Apoptosis; Nrf2; Testis