Estimation of the frequencies of induced mutations in spermatogenic cells of senescence-accelerated prone mice of the SAMP1 strain

The results obtained in this work demonstrate the dynamics of cytogenetic changes of spermatogenic cells in senescence-accelerated prone mice, strain SAMP1, after a single exposure to a chemical mutagen, dipin, at a genetically active dose of 30 mg/kg. In the time interval between days 3 and 28 the frequency of induced spermatogonial micronuclei does not significantly exceed the level of spontaneous mutagenesis. The lack of an experimental effect of micronuclei in this time interval is probably a consequence of mitotic delay and (or) of the death of a considerable part of genetically defective cells in the spermatogonial compartment. Different stages of meiosis exhibit different chemical sensibilities: the yield of round spermatids with micronuclei is maximum after treatment of early primary spermatocytes (preleptotene-leptotene stage) with dipin. The high sensibility of preleptotene and leptotene spermatocytes is confirmed by the sperm head shape abnormality assay. Chromosome damage caused by dipin in spermatogonial stem cells is irreversible, as evidenced by a sharp increase in the frequencies of spermatogonial and meiotic micronuclear aberrations within long periods after treatment. Increased genetic instability in the stem compartment does not lead to irreversible degradation of the system of development of male sex cells in senescence-accelerated SAMP1 mice.