EFFECT OF IRRADIATION ON THE REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION OF WISTAR RATS

Karpenko N.,1 , Deeva T.2

Chernobyl Scientific & Tecnical Center For International Research, Pripiat,
e-mail: carpenko@is-chernobyl.kiev.ua,
tel.: (044)93523311;
State Scientific Center of Medicinal Remedies,
33, Astranomicheskaya Str., Kharkov 61085, Ukraine;
Tel.: (0572)441 180; (0572)322 798;
e-mail: ytoc@mail.ru2

The Pathomorphology Laboratory (State Scientific Center of Medicinal Remedies, Kharkov, Ukraine) together with a Department of Radiobiology and Radioecology of Animals at Chernobyl Scientific & Technical Center for International Research have studied the late biological effects of chronic combined (internal / external / mutual) low-dose irradiation in Wistar rats. Six different doses were modeled by using radionuclide-polluted water from the 4th block of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station (ChNPS). Rats received this water to drink and were fed by the products (fish, grain) taken from the ChNPS Estrangement Zone .

Of main interest of our study is the reproductive function of male rats exposed to irradiation and their further generation: sexual behavior, gonadotoxicity, fertility and teratogenesis. In addition, the following parameters of the generation of irradiated male and non-irradiated female have been investigated: viability, somatic and sexual development - during the first month of the life and behavior in "open field ", glucose tolerance and sexual function - at puberty period. An attempt was made to assess physico-chemical properties of DNA taken from the male epididymis of parental generation.

The following results have been obtained:

_ combined irradiation decreases the number of sexually active males, weakens sexual motivation, and depresses spermatogenesis;

_ study of physico-chemical properties of DNA has revealed the dose-dependent differences in the conformational status of molecules;

_ increase in the pre-implantation dicease of embryos is seen in females;

_ reduced ability to survive has been noted in the offspring during the first month of life;

_ adults of puberty age have demonstrated higher sensitivity to irradiation exposure.

For archive of summaries of bio-medical researches from Kharkov (Ukraine) universities and institutes contact: Nataliya Babenko, Head of Department of Physiology of Ontogenesis, Institute of Biology, Kharkov National University, e-mail: babenko@univer.kharkov.ua, fax: (0572)352923.