The Effect of X-Rays on Lipids, Phospholipids and Cholesterol of the Mouse Testis

Abstract

Summary. The testes of mature male A2G mice were exposed to a single dose of 1000 r of X-rays, and examined at varying intervals up to 146 days after irradiation. Lipids, phospholipids and cholesterol were studied in the control and irradiated mice using histochemical techniques, and estimated quantitatively by the paper weight technique.The relative proportion of lipids per unit area of testis decreased 2 and 6 days after exposure, but increased dramatically from 20 to 72 days; by 146 days, it had nearly returned to the normal level.The relative proportion per unit area of tissue containing phospholipid decreased 2 and 10 days after exposure, steadily rose at 12 days and after until 103 days, and returned to normal at 146 days. The relative proportion of cholesterol increased markedly after 20 days but at 103 and 146 days, it fell to the control level. The significance of these findings is discussed.

An analysis of the effect of ischaemia on testicular ultrastructure

“…The germ cell degeneration in both ligated and contralateral testis is always accompanied by an accumulation of lipid droplets. This supports previous findings concerning the significance of lipid for spermiogenesis (Collins and Lacy, 1969;Jansen, 1970;Kochar and Harrison, 1971). By 3 days, acrosomal enzymes reach the contralateral testis through the blood circulation and effect reversible damage to the tubular cells of the contralateral testis.…”