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 gamma-irradiation resulted in an increase in the radiation-induced perturbations of mouse spermatog enesis at various post-exposure time periods studied. A significant re duction in testicular weight was observed in both DDW + irradiated and VDS + irradiated groups at various post-irradiation time periods, dep ending on the exposure dose. Vindesine pretreatment resulted in an enh anced killing of spermatogonial cells at day 2 post-exposure at all th e exposure doses, except 3 Gy when compared to DDW + irradiated contro ls. Consequently, the tetraploid (4C) population declined significantl y by day 14 post-irradiation followed by a severe depletion in round s permatids (IC) by day 21 post-irradiation. The dose-response relations hip for 4C and 1C populations was linear-quadratic at days 14 and 21, respectively. A significant elevation was observed in KC population fr om days 1 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 gr oup at Various time periods, depending on the exposure dose. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.