Radiation-induced DNA content variability in mouse sperm

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3576100· OSTI ID:5653212

Pinkel, D; Gledhill, B L; van Dilla, M A; Lake, S; Wyrobek, A J

Mouse sperm collected from the cauda epididymidis 35 days after acute testicular x-ray exposure and fluorescently stained for DNA show dose-dependent increases in the coefficient of variation (CV) of flow cytometrically obtained fluorescence distributions. By comparing dose-response curves obtained with three protocols which overcome the optical and cytochemical difficulties of sperm measurement in different ways we conclude the response is due to x-ray-induced DNA content variability. Computer modeling of the shapes of the fluorescence distributions show that at 600 rad 30 to 40% of the sperm have abnormal DNA content. Some have errors as large as two whole chromosomes, but it is not clear whether they are due to whole chromosome nondisjunction or a finer fragmentation of the genome. Exposures to benzo(a)pyrene and mitomycin C cause no detectable DNA content variability. We conclude mouse sperm DNA content measurements are not sensitive to small amounts of aneuploidy and as such will only be useful in detecting agents that produce substantial DNA content variability. Another animal with a smaller number of chromosomes might be more favorable. These sperm measurement techniques may find additional application in other areas of reproductive biology, such as the determination of the relative numbers of X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm in semen that may be artifically enriched in one population.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5653212
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Vol. 95:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
DNA
FLUORESCENCE
SPERMATOZOA
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
ANEUPLOIDY
BENZOPYRENE
CELL FLOW SYSTEMS
CHROMOSOMES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
MICE
MITOMYCIN
X RADIATION
ANIMALS
ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS
ANTIBIOTICS
ANTIMITOTIC DRUGS
ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUGS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
HYDROCARBONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LUMINESCENCE
MAMMALS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLOIDY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals
560111 - Radiation Effects on Biochemicals- In Vitro- (-1987)
550400 - Genetics