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Ultrastructural Analysis of Large Japanese Field Mouse Radiation after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident

Biology (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-04, Vol.13 (4) [Peer Reviewed Journal]

COPYRIGHT 2024 MDPI AG ;ISSN: 2079-7737 ;EISSN: 2079-7737 ;DOI: 10.3390/biology13040239

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  • Title:
    Ultrastructural Analysis of Large Japanese Field Mouse Radiation after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident
  • Author: Gatti, Marta ; Belli, Manuel ; De Rubeis, Mariacarla ; Tokita, Syun ; Ikema, Hikari ; Yamashiro, Hideaki ; Fujishima, Yohei ; Anderson, Donovan ; Goh, Valerie Swee Ting ; Shinoda, Hisashi ; Nakata, Akifumi ; Fukumoto, Manabu ; Miura, Tomisato ; Nottola, Stefania Annarita ; Macchiarelli, Guido ; Palmerini, Maria Grazia
  • Subjects: Evacuation of civilians ; Japan ; Methylene blue ; Nuclear accidents ; Nuclear energy ; Nuclear power plants ; Physiological aspects ; Radiation ; Radioactive substances
  • Is Part Of: Biology (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-04, Vol.13 (4)
  • Description: In 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident resulted in the release of vast quantities of radioactive substances. In this study, we performed an ultrastructural analysis of the testis of the wild large Japanese field mouse (Apodemus speciosus), inhabiting the area near the ex-evacuation zones of the FDNPP and chronically exposed to various levels of low-dose-rate (LDR) radiation, to evaluate the effects of ionizing radiation on the male reproductive system and the possible consequences for future generations. Our results showed a preserved morphology of seminiferous tubules. However, ultrastructural changes, such as wide intercellular spaces, cytoplasmic vacuolization, vacuolated mitochondria, and increased lipid droplet clusters, were found, which could be linked to the mechanisms related to spermatogenesis. Long-term chronic LDR radiation exposure associated with the FDNPP accident had no pronounced adverse effect on spermatogenesis in A. speciosus, even if testis presented some ultrastructural changes. Our findings could be used in future studies to evaluate the effects of radiation on reproductive health in wild animals. Since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, great attention has been paid to the impact of chronic low-dose-rate (LDR) radiation exposure on biological systems. The reproductive system is sensitive to radiation, with implications connected to infertility. We investigated the testis ultrastructure of the wild large Japanese field mouse (Apodemus speciosus) from three areas contaminated after the FDNPP accident, with different levels of LDR radiation (0.29 µSv/h, 5.11 µSv/h, and 11.80 µSv/h). Results showed good preservation of the seminiferous tubules, comparable to the unexposed animals (controls), except for some ultrastructural modifications. Increases in the numerical density of lipid droplet clusters in spermatogenic cells were found at high levels of LDR radiation, indicating an antioxidant activity rising due to radiation recovery. In all groups, wide intercellular spaces were found between spermatogenic cells, and cytoplasmic vacuolization increased at intermediate and high levels and vacuolated mitochondria at the high-level. However, these findings were also related to the physiological dynamics of spermatogenesis. In conclusion, the testes of A. speciosus exposed to LDR radiation associated with the FDNPP accident showed a normal spermatogenesis, with some ultrastructural changes. These outcomes may add information on the reproductive potential of mammals chronically exposed to LDR radiation.
  • Publisher: MDPI AG
  • Language: English
  • Identifier: ISSN: 2079-7737
    EISSN: 2079-7737
    DOI: 10.3390/biology13040239
  • Source: PubMed Central
    Directory of Open Access Journals
    ROAD: Directory of Open Access Scholarly Resources
    ProQuest Central
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