Radiotoxicity of gamma rays and radioprotection of antioxidant vitamins against sperm head malformation in irradiated mice

ABSTRACT

In this study, 140 Swiss albino mice [Mus muscularis] aged 7 weeks and weight 15-20 gm. were used. The animals were sorted into groups, one of them was irradiated with two concentration of gamma rays 300 and 900 rad, other groups were treated with aqueous vitamin C solution; vitamin E solution dissolved in olive oil and both of them together [C and E] at two concentrations, 100 and 500 mg/kg/day for one month, then radiated in two doses 300 and 900 rad. Sperm head abnormalities in non irradiated; irradiated and pretreated with vitamins groups then irradiated were recorded. The irradiation with 300 and 900 rad caused an increase in the sperm head abnormalities compared to the control. On the other hand, animals pretreated with vitamins each alone and combination of the two together showed a decrease in the percentage of abnormalities caused by irradiation. So, vitamin C and vitamin E [antioxidant] were considered as radioprotection