Repair of human sperm chromosome aberrations in the hamster egg

In order to study the repair capacity of fertilized hamster eggs for the lesions present or induced in human sperm, we have examined the potentiating effect of caffeine, a DNA repair inhibitor, on the frequency and types of sperm chromosome aberrations. Sperm samples were donated by an individual tr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inHuman genetics Vol. 89; no. 2; p. 181
Main Authors Genescà, A, Caballín, M R, Miró, R, Benet, J, Germà, J R, Egozcue, J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Germany 01.05.1992
Subjects
Animals
Caffeine - pharmacology
Cells, Cultured
Chromosome Aberrations
Cricetinae
DNA Repair - physiology
Humans
Male
Spermatozoa - drug effects
Spermatozoa - radiation effects
Zygote - physiology
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:In order to study the repair capacity of fertilized hamster eggs for the lesions present or induced in human sperm, we have examined the potentiating effect of caffeine, a DNA repair inhibitor, on the frequency and types of sperm chromosome aberrations. Sperm samples were donated by an individual treated with chemotherapy for a testicular cancer 3 years previously. Exposure of spermatozoa and inseminated oocytes to caffeine led to an increase of sperm chromosome aberrations, indicating that the damage to human sperm can be repaired in untreated hamster egg cytoplasm. The potentiating effect of caffeine was mainly reflected in an increase of unrejoined aberrations, indicating that the formation of chromosomal rearrangements is also inhibited. Since both chromatid-type and chromosome-type aberrations increase after treatment with caffeine, damage to human sperm can probably be repaired inside the hamster egg cytoplasm by pre- and post-replication repair mechanisms.
ISSN:0340-6717
DOI:10.1007/bf00217120