Fractionated irradiation of right thorax induces abscopal damage on testes leading to decline in fertility

Radiation-induced abscopal effect (RIAE) may influence radiotherapy efficiency. However, it is unknown whether RIAE triggers abnormal genetic consequence. We present a novel evidence that, when mice were given fractionated irradiation on right thorax, the ultrastructure of blood-testis barrier was damaged in company with apoptosis induction in testes, and the sperm number and vitality were drastically decreased so that both the fertility and the survival of their offspring were reduced. Protein microarray assay and hormone detection showed that some cytokines especially TNF-α, TGF-β and estradiol in the serum of irradiated mice increased to higher levels in consistent with abscopal damage, and this conditioned serum had toxic effect on TM4 cells in vitro. When the mice were fed with cimetidine, the above abscopal responses were significantly attenuated. This study demonstrates in the first time that the thoracic irradiation (Th-IR) induces structural and functional damage in the distal testes and further cause fertility decline of irradiated male mice, which may have important implications in the strategy development of radiotherapy in avoiding abnormal genetic consequence.

PARTIAL EXCLUSION BETWEEN T-EVEN BACTERIOPHAGES; AN INCIPIENT GENETIC ISOLATION MECHANISM

ABSTRACT Conditional lethal mutant systems developed in T-even bacteriophages T2, T4 and T6 have been used to study the partial exclusion which characterizes mixed infections of these phages. In bacteria mixedly infected with T2 and T4, the dominant phage (T4) acts against localized exclusion sensitivity determinants in the genome of the excluded phage (T2). These determinants are clustered near genes controlling early functions; the determinants themselves do not appear among the progeny, but markers located close to them appear infrequently, by recombination. The excluding action of T4 does not depend on the action of any gene so far identified by conditional lethal mutations, nor does it depend on differences in DNA glucosylation between infecting phages. Regardless of mechanism, the genetic consequence of this partial exclusion is to limit genetic exchange between T2 and T4 in the region of the genome controlling early functions, while retaining the capacity for extensive exchange in other regions; in short, partial exclusion constitutes a localized genetic isolating mechanism. Related forms of partial exclusion characterize mixed infections of other T-even phages, including those of some phages newly isolated from nature.

Location of prophage H90 on the chromosome ofPseudomonas aeruginosastrain PAO

SUMMARYProphage H90 has been found to undergo a phenomenon similar to zygotic induction, during conjugal transfer from a lysogenic donor to a non-lysogenic recipient.It has not been possible to demonstrate that the level of infectious centres increases concomitantly with transfer of the prophage. However, the genetic consequence of zygotic induction was observed with regard to decreased recombinant yield of markers distal to the prophage. This latter fact has been exploited in interrupted mating experiments, to locate the prophage at between 5 and 7 min on thePseudomonas aeruginosastrain PAO map. It was further shown by transduction experiments that the prophage does not appear to be linked to clusters of co-transductional markers at the 5 and 7 min locations.