The Primary Study Of The Effects Of Routine X-ray Examination On Human Sperm

Objective:The effects of ionizing radiation on human reproductive system has always been concerned. a large number of research results have demonstrate that large doses of ionizing radiation have certain damage effects on human reproductive system, but the effect of low dose ionizing radiation is not yet clear. Routine X-ray examination is the most common source of medical exposure, which is considered to be the biggest artificial sources of ionizing radiation. However, there are no reports on the effects of routine X-ray examination on human reproductive system. In addition, the effects of ionizing radiation on frozen semen when stored in liquid nitrogen or transported to far distances is not clear. In order to evaluate the effects of low-dose X-ray irradiation on male reproductive safety, we explored the affects of routine X-ray examination on fresh human sperm motility, viability, DNA integrity and other parameters.Methods:21fresh semen samples were collected from donors who abstinence3-5d and masturbation sperm at human sperm bank of Zhejiang Province. After completely liquefied, the samples were randomly divided into three groups, control group, lmGy group in which the samples accepted1mGy dose X-ray irradiation (equivalent to ordinary radiography X-ray dose) and50mGy group (equivalent to CT check X-ray dose). After irradiation, the sperm viability, motility, motion characteristics, DNA integrity and other parameters were all analysed. The sperm motility was evaluated according to the standard procedures introduced by "WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen"(5th edition). The sperm viability was checked by eosin-nigrosin method. The motion parameters were analysed by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA). and the sperm DNA integrity was checked using flow cytometry. The data from these3groups was analysed by paired t-test.Results:1. The fresh sperm motility was not affect by low-dose X-ray irradiation. The motility between50mGy group (43.52%±27.61%).1mGy group(46.24%±25.24%) and the control group (43.14%±28%) has no significant difference, P>0.05. Moreover, the motility between50mGy group and1mGy group has no significant difference too, P>0.05.2. The different low-dose X-ray irradiation has no effect on fresh human sperm viability. The viability between50mGy group (84.95%±8.07%).1mGy group(84.33%± 8.64%)) and the control group (84.61%±7.76%) has no significant difference, P>0.05. Moreover, the motility between50mGy group and1mGy group has no significant difference too. P>0.05.3. The motion parameters of fresh human sperm was not affect by low-dose X-ray irradiation too. The average data of curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL). average path velocity (VAP), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH). linearity (LIN), straightness (STR) and beat-cross frequency (BCF) between50mGy group,1mGy group and control group has no significant difference. P>0.05.4. The different low-dose X-ray irradiation has no influence on sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). The DFI of50mGy group (15.75%±10.91%),1mGy group(16.29%±12.76%) and the control group (16.48%±13.37%) has no significant difference, P>0.05. and the DFI between50mGy group and1mGy group has no difference too. P>0.05.5. The human sperm high DNA stainability (HDS) was not affect by different low dose X-ray irradiation. The HDS of50mGy group (9.26%±4.23%),1mGy group(9.14%±4.25%) and the control group (9.29%±3.59%) has no significant difference, P>0.05, and the HDS between50mGy group and lmGy group has no difference too, P>0.05.Conclusions:Our results indicated that the low dose X-ray (<50mGy) irradiation has no influence on fresh sperm motility, viability, motion characteristics and DNA integrity. Therefore, we speculated that the conventional radiological check (Plain film and CT) was safe relatively for human mature sperm in vitro, and the results are meaningful when evaluating the effects of ionizing radiation on frozen semen which stored in liquid nitrogen or transported to far distances. But the effect of low dose X-ray irradiation on male overall reproductive function was not clear. We need to do more further study.