Endocrine and reproductive health status of men who had experienced short-term radiation exposure at Chernobyl.

Hormonal and semen parameters in 416 men aged 25-45 years were examined: 328 were men who cleaned the territory around the Chernobyl nuclear reactor (called 'liquidators') and 88 were healthy age-matched controls. The dose of radiation received by the liquidators was 0.16 +/- 0.08 Gy. LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone and cortisol levels were assayed using WHO-matched reagents. Semen analyses were performed according to the WHO Manual (1992). The mean concentration of all hormones in liquidators and controls were within the WHO-defined normal range. The mean levels of LH and cortisol in liquidators were significantly lower (p = 0.013 and p < 0.001, respectively) and testosterone significantly higher (p = 0.023) than in controls. The variations in hormone levels in liquidators were not correlated with the acquired doses of radiation as measured by personal dosimeters (film badges). Semen parameters in a subgroup of 70 liquidators were within the normal WHO-defined range. The percentage of normal forms of spermatozoa in liquidators (35.0 +/- 13.1%) was significantly lower (p < 0.015) than in a control group (42.8 +/- 8.9%). The study has shown that exposure of men to relatively short-term radiation did not cause long-lasting disruption of their endocrine status and spermatogenesis. The study was 7-9 years retrospective and it is therefore impossible to infer what the immediate effects of the radiation exposure were on these parameters.

Effect of low dose endometrial after-loading irradiation upon the hypophysis-ovarian axis.

Endometrial inactivation by irradiation, while simultaneously preserving the ovarian function is sometimes clinically indicated. We have found that after 1100 cGy (rad) the ovarian function remains intact, yet endometrial inactivation is unsatisfactory. Therefore, four premenopausal subjects, with clinical indications for eliminating disturbing uterine bleedings, received each an endometrial dose of 1600 cGy by using a Cathetron afterloading unit. When pre- and post-treatment cycles were compared, the circulating gonadotrophin and estrogen levels were unchanged in three subjects. Nine to 12 weeks after the treatments there were no signs of ovulation and the gonadotrophin levels were generally increased. None of the subjects had experienced any bleedings. We conclude that an endometrial dose of 1600 cGy is effective in inactivating endometrium, but may also lead to an impaired ovarian function and to a premature menopause.