Ultramorphological sperm characteristics in the risk assessment of health effects after radiation exposure among salvage workers in Chernobyl.

Abstract

We present a pilot study of individuals (liquidators) who were engaged in clean-up operations after the disaster at the nuclear power plant at Chernobyl in Ukraine. In the 10 years since the disaster, adverse health effects among exposed individuals have not been clearly defined. There is widespread fear of damage to the reproductive system, with implications for fertility problems and adverse effects on offspring. Bearing this in mind, methods to evaluate the potential for production of fertile semen have been applied using quantitative ultramorphological (QUM) analysis. QUM analysis examines the organization and integrity of sperm organelles by electron microscopy, using both transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Significant differences were observed between clean-up workers and controls of similar age regarding certain ultramorphological parameters of the sperm head. The results of this pilot study suggest that QUM analysis of human sperm is a feasible approach for evaluating the fertility potential of individuals who were exposed to ionizing radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident.

Semen Abnormalities, Sperm DNA Damage and Global Hypermethylation in Health Workers Occupationally Exposed to Ionizing Radiation

“…A high proportion of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa in the exposed group, therefore indicates the possible association between chronic radiation exposure and defective spermiogenesis. Our observations are in agreement with the results from an earlier study which demonstrated increased sperm ultra-structural defects in Chernobyl salvage workers exposed to radiation [17]. Apart from morphological abnormalities, the exposed subjects in the present study also had an increased incidence of sperm head vacuoles.…”

“…Changes in sperm methylation pattern, induced by toxic exposure, may have widespread repercussions on chromatin integrity and gene expression [16]. Hence, there is a risk of damage to the reproductive system from occupational radiation exposure with adverse implications for fertility and reproductive outcome [17].…”

Reproductive outcomes and Y chromosome instability in radiation‐exposed male workers in cardiac catheterization laboratory

“…Studies in cleanup workers exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986 showed alterations in human semen quality (Fischbein et al 1997). Interestingly, an elevated frequency of chromosome aberrations was observed in the offspring of fathers exposed to low doses of radiation during the cleanup of the nuclear plant (Aghajanyan et al 2011).…”

A paternal environmental legacy: Evidence for epigenetic inheritance through the male germ line

“…Notably, studies in human and animal populations exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986 showed DNA damage in sperm and an overall increase in generation of reactive oxygen metabolites [84, 85]. Further analyses in the offspring of fathers exposed to low doses of radiation during cleanup of the nuclear plant showed an elevated frequency of chromosome aberrations, which may lead to increased morbidity over their lifetimes [86].…”