Effects of low-dose heavy ion irradiation on male germ cell adaptation and genetics

Effects of low-dose heavy ion irradiation on male germ cell adaptation and genetics 1 corresp first-author Corresponding author. E-mail: zhangh@impcas.ac.cn Corresponding author. E-mail: zhangh@impcas.ac.cn zhangh@impcas.ac.cn 1 2 Institute of Modern Physics, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000; Institute of Modern Physics, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000; Department of Biology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000 Department of Biology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000 The heavy ions with high linear energy transfer and high relative biological effectiveness are much more deleterious on the male germ cells, ones of the most radiosensitive cells of the body, than low-LET ionizing radiation such as X-ray or gamma-ray. The effects of low-dose heavy ion irradiation on male germ cell adaptation and genetics and the possible mechanism of this adaptation are summarized in our laboratory. Our results showed that the heavy ion irradiation significantly increased the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations in spermatogonia and spermatocytes of mice, the low dose heavy ion irradiation could induce significant adaptative response on mouse testes and human sperm, and pre-exposure of mouse testes with low-dose heavy ion can markedly alleviate damage effects induced by subsequent high-dose irradiation. The increase of SOD activity and decrease of lipid peroxidation levels induced by low-dose ionizing radiation may be involved in this adaptative response mechanism. These studies may provide useful theoretical and clinical bases for radioprotection of reproductive potential and assessment of genetic risks for human exposed to heavy ions in radiotherapy and in outer space environment. Heavy ion irradiation Low-dose pre-exposure Male germ cells Adaptative response Genetics References Ward J F . Prog Nucleic Acid Res Mol Biol , 1988 , 35 : 95 Prog Nucleic Acid Res Mol Biol Kang X , Fang Y Z , Chen J Z . J Radiat Res Radiat Proc (in Chinese) , 1989 , 7 ( 3 ): 60 J Radiat Res Radiat Proc (in Chinese) Liu S Z , Liu W H , Sun J B . Health Phys , 1987 , 52 ( 5 ): 579 Health Phys Sagan L A , Cohen J J , Health Phys , 1990 , 59 ( 1 ): 11 Health Phys Olivieri G , Bodycote J , Wolff S . Science , 1984 , 223 ( 4636 ): 594 Science Zhu S P , Wang L Y . Chin J Radiol Med Prot (in Chinese) , 1995 , 15 ( 1 ): 7 Chin J Radiol Med Prot (in Chinese) Zhu S P , Yang Z S . Chin J Radiol Health (in Chinese) , 2000 , 9 ( 2 ): 65 Chin J Radiol Health (in Chinese) Ritter M A , Cleaver J E , Tobias C A . Nature , 1977 , 266 ( 5603 ): 653 Nature Amelar R D , Dubin L , Hotchkiss R S . J Urol , 1971 , 106 ( 5 ): 714 J Urol Speiser B , Rubin P , Casarett G . Cancer , 1973 , 32 ( 3 ): 692 Cancer Popescu H I , Lancranjan I . Health Phys , 1975 , 28 ( 5 ): 567 Health Phys Hugenholtz A P , Bruce W R . Mutat Res , 1983 , 107 ( 1 ): 177 Mutat Res Zhang H , Wei Z Q , Li W J , et al . Nucl Sci Tech , 1998 , 9 : 47 Nucl Sci Tech Zhang H , Zhang X , Zheng R L , et al . Acta Biol Exp Sin , 2000 , 33 ( 2 ): 97 Acta Biol Exp Sin Berliner D L , Ellis L G Taylor G N . Radiat Res , 1964 , 22 : 345 Radiat Res Zhang H , Zheng R L , Wei Z Q , et al . Int J Radiat Biol , 1998 , 73 ( 2 ): 163 Int J Radiat Biol Yamaoka K , Edamatsu R , Mori A . Free Radic Biol Med , 1991 , 11 ( 3 ): 299 Free Radic Biol Med Youngblom J H , Wiencke J K , Wolff S . Mutat Res , 1989 , 227 ( 4 ): 257 Mutat Res Sengupta S , Bhattacharjee S B . Mutat Res , 1990 , 243 ( 2 ): 81 Mutat Res Laval F . Mutat Res , 1988 , 201 ( 1 ): 73 Mutat Res Zhang H , Wei Z Q , Li W J , et al . Acta Biol Exp Sin , 1999 , 32 ( 1 ): 1 Acta Biol Exp Sin Matin R H , Hildebrand K , Yamamoto J , et al . Mutation Res , 1986 , 174 ( 3 ): 219 Mutation Res Zhang H , Zheng R L , Wang R Y , et al . Mutat Res , 1998 , 398 ( 1-2 ): 27 Mutat Res Q345 + .2,Q691.5 2005-01-24 2005-08-01 2021-01-19 2005 Nuclear Science and Techniques 04 16