This Article Accepted Manuscript (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Mozdarani, H. Articles by Nazari, E. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mozdarani, H. Articles by Nazari, E.

Cytogenetic damages in preimplantation mouse embryos generated after paternal and parental gamma-irradiation and the influence of vitamin C

H Mozdarani, Department of Medical Genetics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
E Nazari, Department of Science and Research, Azad University and Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of

Correspondence: Hossein Mozdarani, Email: mozdarah{at}modares.ac.ir

Abstract

Cytogenetic damage expressed as micronuclei (MN) in 4-8 cells embryos generated after irradiation of male or male and female mice in the absence and presence of vitamin C was investigated. Male NMRI mice were whole body exposed to 4 Gy gamma-rays and mated with non irradiated super-ovulated female mice in 6 successive weeks after irradiation in a weekly interval. In experiments involving irradiation of both male and female mice, irradiated male mice for 6 weeks post-irradiation were mated with female mice irradiated after induction of super-ovulation. Effect of 100 mg/kg vitamin C (ascorbic acid) on the frequency of MN was also studied. Pregnant animals were euthanized and embryos flushed from the oviducts and fixed on slides. The rate of MN observed in embryos generated from irradiated male compared to control group dramatically increased (P<0.01). Frequency of MN in this group decreased dramatically after vitamin C treatment (P<0.01). Frequency of MN in embryos generated by mating both male and female irradiated mice was higher than that observed for those embryos generated by irradiated male mice alone. However, a considerable modifying effect of vitamin C was observed for this group too (P<0.05).

Results indicate that irradiation of gonads during spermatogenesis and pre-ovulatory stage oocytes may lead to unstable chromosomal aberrations and probably stable chromosomal abnormalities affecting pairing and disjunction of chromosomes in successive preimplantation embryos expressed as micronuclei. The way vitamin C reduces clastogenic effects of radiation on germ cells leading to reduced frequency of MN in pre-embryos might be due to its antioxidation and radical scavenging properties.