Gonadotoxic Effects of Technogenic Pollution Factors

Predictability of impact of technogenic pollution on the fertility of living organisms is extremely important under conditions of unfavorable ecological situation in Ukraine. The objective of the research was to define gonadotoxic effects of technogenic pollution factors via the combination of test for the induction of dominant lethal mutations (DLM) and assessment of morphological changes in the seminiferous epithelium of albino rats. Materials and methods. 5 male albino rats were studied. They were held in different locations of Ivano-Frankivsk region for two months and then were mated with three female rats. The post-implantation mortality (PIM) and incidence of dominant lethal mutations (DLM) were determined in female rats; histological changes in the seminiferous epithelium were defined in male rats. Results. The post-implantation mortality of female rats induced by male rats from Kalush, Burshtyn and the zone of enhanced radiation intensity in the village of Stetseva was established to be higher by 3.50, 3.26 and 2.86 times in comparison with that from Kosiv (the control group). The deterioration of male factor fertility in rats from contaminated areas was proved by the number of fertilized female rats and the level of total embryonic mortality (χ2 constituted 10.42, 5.73 and 7.68 for the animals from the above mentioned polluted cities). The incidence of DLM in albino rats from Kalush, Burshtyn and the village of Stesteva exceeded the control value by 24.68%, 21.50% and 21.00%, respectively. Histological changes in the seminiferous tubules were observed in rats of all polluted cities. The changes consisted in the disintegration of the spermatogenesis processes. Spermatogenesis index in the testes of rats from Burshtyn was significantly lower than in the control group, the tendency to its decrease was observed in animals from Kalush and the village of Stetseva. Conclusions. Technogenic pollution was proved to lead to decrease in male factor fertility among rats, a significant increase in PIM, DLM, morphological disorders of the seminiferous epithelium. ?