Charged Iron Particles, Components of Space Radiation, Destroy Ovarian Follicles

Details

• Personal Author:
  Luderer U ; Mishra B ; Ortiz L
• Description:
  STUDY QUESTION: Do charged iron particles, components of space radiation, cause premature ovarian failure? SUMMARY ANSWER: Exposure to charged iron particles causes ovarian DNA damage, oxidative damage and apoptosis, resulting in premature ovarian failure. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The ovary is very sensitive to follicle destruction by low linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, such as X-rays and y-rays. However, it is completely unknown whether high-LET radiation, such as charged iron particles, also destroys ovarian follicles. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Twelve week old C57BL/6J female mice were exposed to single doses of 0, 5, 30 or 50 cGy (n = 8/group) charged iron particles (LET = 179 keV/um) at energy of 600 MeV/u. Two groups were irradiated at the highest dose, one fed AIN-93M chow and the other fed AIN-93M chow supplemented with 150 mg/kg diet alpha lipoic acid (ALA). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: We quantified the numbers of ovarian follicles, measured serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations, and analyzed histone H2AX phosphorylation, oxidative damage and apoptosis markers in the ovarian follicles. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: H2AX phosphorylation, lipid peroxidation, protein nitration and apoptosis were highly induced in ovarian follicles at 6 h and remained increased 1 week after irradiation. As a result, numbers of healthy ovarian follicles were significantly and dose-dependently depleted at 1 and 8 weeks post-irradiation, with 57, 84 and 99% decreases in primordial follicles at 8 weeks at the 5, 30 and 50 cGy doses, respectively (P < 0.05 versus 0 cGy). Consistent with near-total depletion of ovarian follicles in the 50 cGy group, serum concentrations of FSH and LH were significantly elevated at 8 weeks. Dietary supplementation with ALA partially prevented the adverse ovarian effects of 50 cGy iron particles. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: About 21% of the estimated radiation dose from exposure to galactic cosmic rays during a multi-year Mars mission will be due to high-LET particles, of which iron is only one. The effects of galactic cosmic rays, which contain a mixture of multiple charged particles, as well as protons, neutrons, and helium ions, may differ from the effects of iron alone. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: We show for the first time that charged high-LET ions are highly damaging to the ovary even at low doses, causing premature ovarian failure. In addition to raising concerns for female astronauts, these findings raise concerns for ovarian damage due to clinical uses of high-LET particles for cancer treatment. In addition to causing infertility, premature ovarian failure has adverse implications for the functions of heart, brain, bone and muscle later in life. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Ferrous Compounds Occupational Health Safety Urogenital System Women
• Keywords:
  Animal Studies Apoptosis Author Keywords: Charged Particles Cosmic Radiation Infertility Ionizing Radiation Iron Ovarian Follicle Oxidative Stress Premature Ovarian Failure Radiation Effects Reproductive Effects

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• ISSN:
  0268-1161
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  31
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055906
• Citation:
  Hum Reprod 2016 Aug; 31(8):1816-1826
• Contact Point Address:
  Ulrike Luderer, Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, 100 Theory Drive, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
• Email:
  uluderer@uci.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  University of California Los Angeles
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Human Reproduction
• End Date:
  20270630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5abbe9261d3fead3b97d49f9ba6291fb1ae5c8c0d35560324b3cec5cd4c1d06c60a8682d9481f00634e2d58f5b73477f30e1e3ffc19ee254dcc10f07dc4e4bce
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/213660/cdc_213660_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 12.93 MB ]