ISSN:
0148-7280
Keywords:
spermatogenesis
;
pressure
;
subfertility
;
testis
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
This study was designed to investigate the mechanism of the subfertility produced when male mice are exposed to high pressure [Baden et al, 1982]. In the first series of experiments, male BALB/c mice were exposed to 50 ATA helium pressure intermittently throughout spermatogenesis (5 weeks). Control mice were exposed to 1 ATA air under identical conditions for an equivalent period. Immediately after exposure half the mice in each group were sacrificed, the remainder being sacrificed 14 days later. Testes were weighed and prepared for histological examination, and spermatozoa were examined for motility and abnormalities. More testes in the pressure group had disorganised seminiferous epithelia and weighed less than the control group; in addition the motility of sperm was also reduced immediately after pressurisation.In the second series, male mice were exposed to 50 ATA pressure, or 1 ATA air intermittently for only 1 week to assess whether this exposure, for a period sufficient only to affect epididymal sperm, had any effect on functional fertility. The males were subsequently mated with untreated females; no difference was seen between the groups for pregnancy rate, preimplantation loss, or fetal survival.These data support the idea that the changes in spermatogenesis causing subfertility in mice are fairly subtle, but are consistent with the premature release of spermatids from seminiferous epithelium. Epididymal sperm remained functionally unaffected by exposure to high pressure.
Additional Material:
3 Tab.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrd.1120080110
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