Assessment of testicular function after acute and chronic irradiation: Further evidence for an influence of late spermatids on Sertoli cell function in the adult rat

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Endocrinology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-124-6-2720· OSTI ID:5927774

Pineau, C; Pinon-Lataillade, G; Jegou, B

To study cell to cell communications within the testis of adult Sprague-Dawley rats, we used acute whole body neutron plus gamma-irradiation over 7-121 days postirradiation and chronic whole body gamma-irradiation over 14-84 days of irradiation and 7-86 days postirradiation. Neither irradiation protocol had an effect on the body weight of the animals. Neutron plus gamma-rays induced dramatic damages to spermatogonia, preleptotene spermatocytes, spermatozoa, and, to a lesser extent, pachytene spermatocytes. In contrast, gamma-rays induced a selective destruction of spermatogonia. Subsequently, in both experiments a maturation-depletion process led to a marked decrease in all germ cell types. A complete or near complete recovery of the different germ cell types and spermatozoa took place during the two postirradiation periods. Under both irradiation protocols Sertoli cells number was unchanged. Androgen-binding protein and FSH levels were normal in spite of the disappearance of most germ cells from spermatogonia to early spermatids. However, the decline of androgen-binding protein as well as the rise of FSH and their subsequent recovery were highly correlated to the number of late spermatids and spermatozoa. Moreover, it appeared that spermatocytes may also interfere with the production of inhibin (Exp B). With neither irradiation was Leydig cell function altered, except in Exp B in which elevated LH levels were temporarily observed. Correlation analysis suggested a relationship between preleptotene spermatocytes and Leydig cell function. In conclusion, this study establishes that chronic gamma-irradiation is particularly useful in the study of intratesticular paracrine regulation in vivo and provides further support to the concept that late spermatids play a major role in controlling some aspects of Sertoli cell function in the adult rat.

• Research Organization: Universite de Rennes I, Rennes (France)
• OSTI ID: 5927774
• Journal Information: Endocrinology; (United States), Journal Name: Endocrinology; (United States) Vol. 124:6; ISSN ENDOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACUTE EXPOSURE
ACUTE IRRADIATION
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
ANIMALS
BARYONS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
CHRONIC IRRADIATION
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FERMIONS
GAMETES
GAMETOGENESIS
GAMMA RADIATION
GERM CELLS
GONADS
HADRONS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
KETONES
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NEUTRONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RODENTS
SPERMATOGENESIS
SPERMATOZOA
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TESTES
TESTOSTERONE
VERTEBRATES
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOT