Simulated Microgravity Conditions and Carbon Ion Irradiation Induce Spermatogenic Cell Apoptosis and Sperm DNA Damage

• Published in: Biomedical and environmental sciences Vol. 26; no. 9; pp. 726 - 734
• Main Authors: LI, Hong Yan, ZHANG, Hong, MIAO, Guo Ying, XIE, Yi, SUN, Chao, DI, Cui Xia, LIU, Yang, LIU, Yuan Yuan, ZHANG, Xin, MA, Xiao Fei, XU, Shuai, GAN, Lu, ZHOU, Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2013; Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China; Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China%Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
• Subjects: Animals; apoptosis; Apoptosis - radiation effects; Carbon; Carbon ion irradiation; Cell Proliferation - radiation effects; chromatin; DNA; DNA Damage; DNA fragmentation; DNA损伤; Heavy Ions - adverse effects; immunoblotting; Immunohistochemistry; iodides; irradiation; Male; male fertility; males; Mice; microgravity; p53基因; proliferating cell nuclear antigen; Random Allocation; risk; Simulated microgravity; Sperm Count; Sperm DNA damage; spermatocytes; Spermatogenesis - radiation effects; Spermatogenic cells apoptosis; spermatozoa; Spermatozoa - radiation effects; testes; Testis - radiation effects; Weightlessness Simulation; 微重力条件; 模拟微重力; 生精细胞凋亡; 碳离子; 精子染色体; 辐照诱导; Simulated microgravity; Spermatogenic cells apoptosis; Carbon ion irradiation; Sperm DNA damage
• ISSN: 0895-3988; 2214-0190
• DOI: 10.3967/0895-3988.2013.09.003

Objective To investigate the effect of simulated microgravity and carbon ion irradiation （CIR） on spermatogenic cell apoptosis and sperm DNA damage to the testis of male Swiss Webster mice, and assess the risk associated with space environment. Methods Sperm DNA damage indicated by DNA fragmentation index （DFI） and high DNA stainability （HDS） was measured by sperm chromatin structure assay （SCSA）. Apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was detected by annexin V-propidium iodide assay. Bax （the expression levels of p53） and proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNAI were measured by immunoblotting; p53 and PCNA were located by immunohistology. Results HDS, DFI, apoptosis index, and the expression levels of p53 and Bax were detected to be significantly higher in the experimental groups （P〈0.05） compared with those in the control group, however, the PCNA expression varied to a certain degree, p53- and PCNA- positive expression were detected in each group, mainly in relation to the spermatogonic cells and spermatocytes. Conclusion The findings of the present study demonstrated that simulated microgravity and CIR can induce spermatogenic cell apoptosis and sperm DNA damage. Sperm DNA damage may be one of the underlying mechanisms behind male fertility decline under space environment. These findings may provide a scientific basis for protectint~ astronauts and space traveler＇s health and safety.