Protamines in mammalian germ cell mutagenesis

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5768124

Sega, G A

In the development from stem cells to functional spermatozoa, the germ cells of all mammals progress through a series of similar stages. Many studies have been carried out in mice with a variety of chemical agents that have produced differential genetic sensitivity in the various germ-cell stages depending on the agent being tested. In studies of the genetic effects of chemical agents in mice, the exposure given to the animals (by injection, inhalation, skin application, etc.) is accurately known. However, in general, nothing is known about the molecular dose of the chemical that actually reaches the different germ-cell stages. In particular, the chemical mutagens ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), ethylene oxide (EtO) and acrylamide (AA) have all been shown, in genetic studies, to produce very many more dominant lethal mutations and heritable translocations in late spermatids and early spermatozoa than in other germ-cell stages in male mice. We have, subsequently, used all 4 of these chemical mutagens in radioactive form to find out where they are binding within the germ cells and to see what correlations may exist between the extent of chemical binding in different stages and the amount of induced genetic damage. 17 refs., 4 figs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5768124
• Report Number(s): CONF-8907113-5-Vugraphs; ON: DE89015367
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550300* -- Cytology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REPAIR
DNA REPAIR
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
GENETIC EFFECTS
GERM CELLS
MALFORMATIONS
MAMMALS
MICE
MUTATIONS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RECOVERY
REPAIR
RODENTS
STRAND BREAKS
VERTEBRATES