The morphological changes of adult mouse testes after 60Co gamma-Radiation.

Background: Cytotoxic therapy can lead to prolonged azoospermiaor even sterility. In the present study, we investigated the morphological changes of mouse testes after γ-Radiation. Methods: After anaesthetizing of NMRI mice, testes and their surrounding tissues were irradiated using a cobalt therapymachine. Four experimental groups were irradiated with fractionated doses of: 1.5+8, 1.5+12 and 1.5+16 Gy (with an interval of 24 h) and single dose of 14 Gy. Non-irradiated mice were considered as control group. Testeswere removed 4, 6 and 8 weeks following irradiation, weighed and processed for light microscopic study. Diameters of seminiferous tubulesand their lumens, epithelium thickness, percentage of different types of tubulesand number of spermatogenic cell were measured. Moreover, sperm count motility and viability rates were evaluated in epididymis. Results: Number of normal tubules, epithelium thickness, tubulesdiameter and lumen diameter were significantly reduced with high dose irradiation in comparison with control testes. The recovery was observed after 8 weeks. Epididymal sperm count, motility and viability rates were significantly decreased in the irradiated mice comparing non-irradiated ones. These parameters were increased after 8 weeks. Conclusion: According to the results, irradiation can cause temporary azoospermiain mouse and this effect is reversible after 8 weeks. Iran. Biomed. J. 12 (1): 35-42, 2008