Quantitative analysis of radiation-induced changes in sperm morphology
When developing spermatogenic cells are exposed to radiation, chemical carcinogens or mutagens, the transformation in the morphology of the mature sperm can be used to determine the severity of the exposure. In this study five groups of mice with three mice per group received testicular doses of X irradiation at dosage levels ranging from 0 rad to 120 rad. A random sample of 100 mature sperm per mouse was analyzed five weeks later for the quantitative morphologic transformation as a function of dosage level. The cells were stained with gallocyanin chrome alum (GCA) so that only the DNA in the sperm head was visible. The ACUity quantitative microscopy system at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory was used to scan the sperm at a sampling density of 16 points per linear micrometer and with 256 brightness levels per point. The contour of each cell was extracted using conventional thresholding techniques on the high-contrast images. For each contour a variety of shape features was then computed to characterize the morphology of that cell. Using the control group and the distribution of their shape features to establish the variability of a normal sperm population, the 95% limits on normal morphology were established. Using only four shape features, a doubling dose of approximately 39 rad was determined. That is, at 39 rad exposure the percentage of abnormal cells was twice that occurring in the control population. This compared to a doubling dose of approximately 70 rad obtained from a concurrent visual procedure.
- Research Organization:
- Biomedical Sciences Division, University of California, Livermore
- OSTI ID:
- 6296316
- Journal Information:
- Anal. Quant. Cytol.; (United States), Journal Name: Anal. Quant. Cytol.; (United States) Vol. 4:3; ISSN AQCYD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effects of X-irradiation on mouse testicular cells and sperm chromatin structure
Quantification of mammalian sperm morphology by slit-scan flow cytometry
Related Subjects
560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
GONADS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
LOCAL IRRADIATION
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
MICE
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
MORPHOLOGY
ORGANS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
RODENTS
SPERMATOZOA
TESTES
VERTEBRATES
X RADIATION