Gradual regeneration of mouse testicular stem cells after exposure to ionizing radiation

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3574894· OSTI ID:6783879

Meistrich, M L; Hunter, N R; Suzuki, N; Trostle, P K; Withers, H R

The regeneration of mouse testicular stem cells during 60 weeks after exposure to 600 or 1200 rad of ..gamma.. radiation was examined. Restoration of spermatogenesis depended on stem cell survival, regeneration, and differentiation. Several assays were employed to measure the number of stem cells and their ability to repopulate the seminiferous epithelium as follows. Assay 1: The percentage of repopulated tubular cross sections was determined histologically at various times after irradiation. Assay 2: Mice were irradiated and, after given time intervals to allow for regeneration of stem cell numbers, a second dose was given. The percentage of repopulated tubular cross sections was determined 5 weeks later. Assay 3: The ability of the stem cells to produce spermatocytes and spermatids was assayed by the levels of the germ cell specific isoenzyme, LDH-X. Assay 4: The ability of the stem cells to produce sperm was assayed by the number of sperm heads in the testes. In addition, the ability of the stem cells to produce functional spermatozoa was measured by the fertility of the animals. The results obtained were as follows. All assays demonstrated that gradual regeneration of stem cell number occurred simultaneously with repopulation of the seminiferous epithelium by differentiating cells derived from stem cells. The regeneration kinetics of stem cells followed an exponential increase approaching a dose-dependent plateau below the level prior to irradiation. The doubling time for stem cells during the exponential portion was about 2 weeks. The regeneration of stem cell number after depletion by irradiation was gradual and incomplete, and only partially restored spermatogenesis. Correlation of regeneration with fertility data demonstrated that fertility was reestablished when sperm production returned to about 15% of control levels.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Texas, Houston
• OSTI ID: 6783879
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 74:2; 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
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REGENERATION
BODY
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GAMETOGENESIS
GAMMA RADIATION
GONADS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
LOCAL IRRADIATION
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
MICE
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RECOVERY
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SPERMATOGENESIS
STEM CELLS
TESTES
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES