Effect of vindesine sulfate on the radiation-induced alterations in mouse spermatogenesis: A flow cytometric evaluation

The effect of 0.05 mg/kg body weight of vindesine sulfate was studied on the radiation-induced changes in mouse spermatogenesis at 1, 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 70 days post-irradiation. Vindesine administration before exposure to 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 Gy γ-irradiation resulted in an increase in the radiation-induced perturbations of mouse spermatogenesis at various post-exposure time periods studied. A significant reduction in testicular weight was observed in both DDW + irradiated and VDS + irradiated groups at various post-irradiation time periods, depending on the exposure dose. Vindesine pretreatment resulted in an enhanced killing of spermatogonial cells at day 2 post-exposure at all the exposure doses, except 3 Gy when compared to DDW + irradiated controls. Consequently, the tetraploid (4C) population declined significantly by day 14 post-irradiation followed by a severe depletion in round spermatids (1C) by day 21 post-irradiation. The dose-response relationship for 4C and 1C populations was linear-quadratic at days 14 and 21, respectively. A significant elevation was observed in HC population from days I to 21 depending on the exposure dose. The germ cell ratios, viz. 4C:2C, 4C:S-phase, 1C:2C and 1C:4C, showed a significant decline in the VDS + irradiated group when compared to the DDW + irradiated group at various time periods, depending on the exposure dose.