This study investigated the impact of simulated microgravity on acute injury induced by low doses of carbon ions in male reproductive organs of mice,and determined alterations in spermatogenic function and expression ...This study investigated the impact of simulated microgravity on acute injury induced by low doses of carbon ions in male reproductive organs of mice,and determined alterations in spermatogenic function and expression levels of apoptotic factors in mice following exposure to acute irradiation after 7 days of simulated microgravity.The results demonstrated that significant reductions in spermatozoa,primary spermatocytes and spermatogonia,and increased globular cells in seminiferous tubule and pro-apoptotic proteins were observed in the group exposed to over0.4 Gy irradiation.Collectively,the data suggest that lesions inflicted by simulated microgravity are not markedly modified by lower doses of irradiation(0.2 Gy)in mouse testis compared to the control group.However,testicular impairments were markedly evident in the group exposed to higher doses of carbon ions plus simulated microgravity,which may be due at least in part to elevated apoptosis initiated by the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in germ cells.展开更多
基金Supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program of China(No.2010CB834202)Knowledge Innovation Projection of Chinese Academy of Science(No.KJCX2-YW-L08)The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.10835011,No.10675151,No.41161058,No.31060065 and No.10805064)
文摘This study investigated the impact of simulated microgravity on acute injury induced by low doses of carbon ions in male reproductive organs of mice,and determined alterations in spermatogenic function and expression levels of apoptotic factors in mice following exposure to acute irradiation after 7 days of simulated microgravity.The results demonstrated that significant reductions in spermatozoa,primary spermatocytes and spermatogonia,and increased globular cells in seminiferous tubule and pro-apoptotic proteins were observed in the group exposed to over0.4 Gy irradiation.Collectively,the data suggest that lesions inflicted by simulated microgravity are not markedly modified by lower doses of irradiation(0.2 Gy)in mouse testis compared to the control group.However,testicular impairments were markedly evident in the group exposed to higher doses of carbon ions plus simulated microgravity,which may be due at least in part to elevated apoptosis initiated by the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in germ cells.