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FLOW CYTOMETRY OF ACRIDINE ORANGE STAINED SPERM IS A RAPID AND PRACTICAL METHOD FOR MONITORING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO GENOTOXICANTS
Citation:
Evenson, D. FLOW CYTOMETRY OF ACRIDINE ORANGE STAINED SPERM IS A RAPID AND PRACTICAL METHOD FOR MONITORING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO GENOTOXICANTS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-85/234 (NTIS PB86116407), 1985.
Description:
Public awareness is growing concerning the reproductive consequences of the numerous environmental and occupational chemicals. Exposure of germ cells within the seminiferous tubules of the mammalian testis to chemical toxins often causes severe perturbation of cell growth, division and differentiation. Quantitative and qualitative reduction of sperm may have adverse consequences for fertility, and normality of fetus. To detect toxic effects of chemical exposure on germ cells, it is of prime importance to develop more sensitive and practical methods by which putative alterations in germ cells may be investigated. Previously selected (Overstreet 1984) criteria for male reproductive risk assessment required the tests be (a) objective, (b) technically sound, (c) biologically stable, (d) sensitive, and (e) feasible. Flow cytometric measurement of acridine orange stained sperm meets all of these criteria for monitoring occupational exposure to genotoxicants. This conclusion is based on two independent studies of sperm obtained from: (1) toxin exposed mice, and (2) patients attending infertility and cancer treatment clinics.