Effects on sperm morphology of irradiated rabbits

Abstract

A comparative research was made on the effects of total irradiation with different dosis of X-rays on the sperm morphology of rabbits. Forty adult male rabbits of the White New Zealand breed were used as experimental animals, divided in four groups of 10 animals each, being one group used as control and the others irradiated respectively with 50, 200 and 600 rad. A 4 MeV linear accelerator was used as radiation source. Semen samples evaluations were made before irradiation and in subsequent periods of 7 hours, 3 days and 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Sperm morphology was examined by counting 200 cells in each of 241 smears stained by Williams's method and in 241 formol saline preparations in phase contrast microscope. Averages end standard deviations of these data are presentd in tables1 and 2. Percentages of main abnormalities and the period in which they occurred, are presented in table 3. Mean percentages of normal sperm and spermatic abnormalities are shown in figures 2 and 3. As determined at successive intervals after irradiation, a decrease in number of normal and an increase in abnormal sperm were observed. The level of sperm abnormalities was more sensitive accordingly to higher dosis of X-rays irradiation.