Effects of thoracic X-ray irradiation on the spermatogenesis of adult male mice
10.3760/cma.j.cn112271-20211101-00437
- VernacularTitle:X射线胸部照射对小鼠精子发生的影响
- Author:
Panpan LAI
1
;
Yuntao JING
;
Ling GUO
;
Yizhe XUE
;
Liyuan LIU
;
Tongzhou QIN
;
Guiqiang ZHOU
;
Junze DU
;
Xia MIAO
;
Guirong DING
Author Information
1. 空军军医大学军事预防医学系辐射防护医学教研室 特殊作业环境危害评估与防治教育部重点实验室，西安 710032
- Keywords:
X-rays;
Mouse;
Testis;
Spermatogenesis;
Apoptosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection
2022;42(5):328-334
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the effect of thoracic X-ray irradiation on the spermatogenesis of adult male mice.Methods:A total of 24 healthy adult male C57BL/6 mice (6-8 weeks old) were randomly divided into radiation group (Radiation) and sham-radiation group (Sham), 12 mice in each group. The area of thoracic irradiation was 1.5 cm× 2 cm, and the dose rate was 3.04 Gy/min, 8 Gy/d for 3 consecutive days, 24 Gy in total. At 7 d and 21 d after thoracic irradiation, the bilateral testes and epididymal tails were stripped and the testicular index was calculated. The morphology of testis was examined by haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, then the diameter of seminiferous tubules and the thickness of seminiferous epithelium were measured. The sperms were collected from the bilateral epididymal tails for sperm counting. The level of apoptosis in testis and levels of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by TUNEL and Western blot, respectively.Results:Compared with Sham group, the morphology of testis and epididymis was seriously damaged, the diameter of seminiferous tubules significantly decreased at 21 d after irradiation ( t = 8.93, P < 0.05), and the seminiferous epithelium significantly decreased at 7 d and 21 d after irradiation ( t = 4.24, 12.77, P < 0.05). In addition, the number of sperms significantly decreased ( t = 4.30, 2.98, P < 0.05). The number of TUNEL positive cells in the seminiferous epithelium significantly increased at 7 d and 21 d after irradiation ( t = -2.73, -3.74, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the level of cleaved Caspase-3 protein significantly increased at 7 d and 21 d after irradiation ( t = -2.96, -2.46, P < 0.05). The concentrations of SCF and GDNF did not change at 7 d after irradiation, but were significantly increased at 21 d after irradiation ( t = -10.46, -5.42, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The thoracic X-ray irradiation could lead to spermatogenesis disorder in male adult mice, and the induction of spermatogenic cell apoptosis and the secretory dysfunction of sertoli cells may be involved.
