Relation between X-Ray Sensitivity and Stages of the Cell Cycle in Spermatogonia of the Mouse

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Radiation Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3571315· OSTI ID:4742297

Monesi, Valerio

Male mice were injected intraperitoneally with 15 mu C of H³- thymidine per mouse, x-irradiated 1 hour later with 20, afterward. Autoradiograms of 5- mu sections of the testes were prepared, and counts were made of the numbers of normal and necrotic, unlabeled and labeled, type A, intermediate, and type B spermatogonia. Results indicate that damaged spermatogonia die as they reach a definite, critical stage in the cell cycle, regardless of the stage at which they were irradiated. Cell death occurs in late interphase or very early prophase for type A and intermediate spermatogonia and in anaphase or telophase for type B spermatogonia. Type B spermatogonia are remarkably resistant to cell killing for a period of about 5 to 7 hours after completion of DNA synthesis. This period corresponds approximately to the duration of prophase. Interphase is the sensitive stage. Since type A and intermediate spermatogonia die before division, the fate of the cells irradiated while in mitosis escapes detection. If the conclusion of a high radioresistance during early division stages drawn for type B spermatogonia also might be applied to type A and intermediate spermatogonia, a key might be provided for the interpretation of the radiation response of mouse spermatogonia. Thus, the much longer duration of the xray-sensitive period (interphase) and the much shorter duration of the x-ray-resistant period (prophase) of the cell cycle in intermediate and type B spermatogonia in comparison to type A spermatogonia may possibly account for the greater x-ray sensitivity of intermediate and type B cells. Accordingly, the existence in the type A population of four cell generations each having different durations of the x-ray-sensitive and of the x- ray-resistant periods of the cell cycle offers a possible explanation for the heterogeneity of the radiation survival curve of these cells.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn; and Comitato Nazionale per l'energia Nucleare, Rome
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-004415
• OSTI ID: 4742297
• Journal Information: Radiation Research, Journal Name: Radiation Research Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 17; ISSN 0033-7587
• Publisher: Radiation Research Society
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AMINO ACIDS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOCHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
GONADS
MICE
MITOSIS
NITRATES
NITRIC ACID
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORE PROCESSING
PITCHBLENDE
PRECIPITATION
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIOAUTOGRAPHY
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RADIUM
SODIUM NITRATES
SOLUTIONS
SPERMATOGONIA
SULFATES
SULFURIC ACID
THYMIDINE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM
URANINITES
URANIUM
URANIUM MINERALS
X RADIATION