The response of a mixed cell population in mouse testes to x-ray and HZE irradiation
The testes sperraatogonial population differentiates from a stem cell (As) which, via a series of mitotic divisions, gives rise to spermatocytes. The spermatocytes undergo reductional meiotic divisions and mature into sperm. Short cellular life cycles make the testes an excellent tissue for quantitative studies of radiation effects.Brown B6D2F1 mice, aged 14 weeks, were exposed to Helium particle radiation (227 MeV) in the Berkeley 184 inch synchocyclotron and to x rays at 225 KvP and 15 mA. Doses ranged from 1 to 100 rads. Tissues were fixed in Triple Fix and embedded. Two-micron sections were stained with Toluidine Blue, and ultra-thin sections were stained in the standard manner for electron microscopy. All studies were done on the tissues 72 hrs after irradiation.Our previous work, on cell survival after graded doses of radiation, has shown a steeper slope (more sensitive response) in the low dose range below 20 rads. By convention, the resulting points were plotted by linear regression resulting in a "best fit" straight line.