Endocrine function and reproductive impairment in an irradiated population of the lizard Uta stansburiana. [Effects of chronic, low-level /sup 137/Cs. gamma. irradiation underfield conditions]

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3574809· OSTI ID:6432535

Pearson, A K ^[1]; Licht, P; Nagy, K A; Medica, P A

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1. Univ. of California, Berkeley

Gonadal changes in lizards (Uta stansburiana) exposed to chronic low levels of ..gamma.. radiation (1.5 to 10 R/day) under field conditions are described, and attempts to evaluate endocrine involvement in these changes are made. Reproductive impairment in irradiated males was demonstrated during the breeding season by reduced testes weights and by seminiferous tubules devoid of germ cells. Ultrastructural morphology of Leydig cells, plasma testosterone levels, and developed accessory sex structures indicatedd normal steroidogenesis in such males; cytology of the pituitary gonadotropes and pituitary gonadotropin content indicated normal gonadotropin levels. These findings suggest that low levels of radiation affect the spermatogenic process directly, rather than through damage to the pituitary. Comparable irradiation caused complete resorption of ovarian tissue in some female Uta. The oviducts were atrophic and the pituitary gonadotropes hyperactive. Resemblance of gonadotropes to those of castrated animals and reduced pituitary hormone content suggests elevated levels of gonadotropin production, probably due to the absence of ovarian steroid feedback in affected animals. The continued mitotic activity of oogonia in adult reptiles and their limited number contributed to the vulnerability of germinal tissue in irradiated female lizards. Destruction of the germ cells was accompanied by resorption of all ovarian tissue including steroidogenic elements. Thus, in females as in males, radiation appears to damage gametogenesis rather than pituitary function.

• OSTI ID: 6432535
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 76:3; ISSN RAREA
• 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.
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
CHRONIC IRRADIATION
DOSE RATES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
FEMALE GENITALS
FEMALES
GAMETOGENESIS
GAMMA RADIATION
GLANDS
GONADOTROPINS
GONADS
HORMONES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
LIZARDS
LOW DOSE IRRADIATION
MALE GENITALS
MALES
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OOGENESIS
ORGANS
OVARIES
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY GLAND
PITUITARY HORMONES
POPULATIONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
REPRODUCTION
REPTILES
SECRETION
SPERMATOGENESIS
TESTES
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES