Shabnam Mohammadi1, Mojtaba Kianmehr2, Maryam Mohammadi3, Zahra Fahimian2, Elham Karimimanesh2, Mostafa Farazifar2, Zahra Nakhaei2, Nafiseh Golamneghad2, Basir Bolourifard2, Mehran Gholamin4, Atena Mansouri5, Reyhaneh Sadat Mahmoodi M6, Shokouhozaman Soleymanifard7, Samaneh Boroumand-Noughabi8, Nasibeh Ghandy1, Ali Delshad2, Fatemeh Mohammadzadeh2, Hojjat Norasteh1, Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan9, Gordon Aa Ferns10. 1. a Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran. 2. b Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine , Gonabad University of Medical Sciences , Gonabad , Iran. 3. c Department of Public Health , School of Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran. 4. d Department of Laboratory Sciences , School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran. 5. e Student Research Committee, Nanotechnology Research Center , School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran. 6. f Immunology Research Center , Mashhad University of medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran. 7. g Department of Medical Physics , School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran. 8. h Department of Pathology , School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran. 9. i Biochemistry of Nutritional Research Center , Mashhad University of Medical Science , Mashhad , Iran. 10. j Department of Medical Education , Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Falmer , Brighton , UK.
Abstract
Propose: CatSper protein channels are responsible for the entry of Ca2+ into sperm cells. These proteins play an important role in motility and male fertility. So it is important to find out whether or not environmental factors, such as gamma radiation, have an effect on the expression of Catsper genes. In this study, we investigated the effects of gamma radiation on the expression of CatSper1 and CatSper2 genes. Materials and methods: Twenty-one male NMRI mice were divided into three groups: a control group without gamma radiation, and two experimental groups; Group 1 treated with 1 Gy of gamma radiation, and Group 2 treated with a higher dose of 2 Gy gamma radiation. Testes were removed from all groups of animals 35 days following irradiation and the testicular tissue, processed and embedded in paraffin blocks for sectioning and histological examination. Sperm samples were also taken from the epididymis for microscopic. Sperm parameters such as sperm count, morphology, motility, and viability rates were analyzed. Expression of CatSper genes was evaluated using Real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software and ANOVA test. Results: Our results showed that after treatment with gamma radiation, testes morphology was changed. Epididymal sperm count, motility, and morphology rates were significantly affected in both experimental groups compared to the control group. The relative expressions of CatSper 1 and 2 genes were significantly reduced in the irradiated mice (1 Gy and 2 Gy) than non-irradiated ones. Conclusions: Gamma radiations not only change testes histology and sperm parameters, but also decrease the expression of CatSper 1 and 2 genes in male mice.
Propose: CatSper protein channels are responsible for the entry of Ca2+ into sperm cells. These proteins play an important role in motility and male fertility. So it is important to find out whether or not environmental factors, such as gamma radiation, have an effect on the expression of Catsper genes. In this study, we investigated the effects of gamma radiation on the expression of CatSper1 and CatSper2 genes. Materials and methods: Twenty-one male NMRI mice were divided into three groups: a control group without gamma radiation, and two experimental groups; Group 1 treated with 1 Gy of gamma radiation, and Group 2 treated with a higher dose of 2 Gy gamma radiation. Testes were removed from all groups of animals 35 days following irradiation and the testicular tissue, processed and embedded in paraffin blocks for sectioning and histological examination. Sperm samples were also taken from the epididymis for microscopic. Sperm parameters such as sperm count, morphology, motility, and viability rates were analyzed. Expression of CatSper genes was evaluated using Real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software and ANOVA test. Results: Our results showed that after treatment with gamma radiation, testes morphology was changed. Epididymal sperm count, motility, and morphology rates were significantly affected in both experimental groups compared to the control group. The relative expressions of CatSper 1 and 2 genes were significantly reduced in the irradiated mice (1 Gy and 2 Gy) than non-irradiated ones. Conclusions: Gamma radiations not only change testes histology and sperm parameters, but also decrease the expression of CatSper 1 and 2 genes in male mice.