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. 1987 Oct;74:31–40. doi: 10.1289/ehp.877431

Detecting the effects of toxic agents on spermatogenesis using DNA probes.

N B Hecht 1
PMCID: PMC1474519  PMID: 3319554

Abstract

Advances in the molecular biology of spermatogenesis suggest that DNA probes can be used to monitor the effects of toxic agents in male germ cells of mammals. Molecular hybridization analyses with DNA probes can provide a reproducible methodology capable of detecting changes ranging from massive deletions to single base pair substitutions in the genome of exposed individuals. A constantly increasing number of DNA probes that can be used to detect such alterations in human sperm DNA exist for both ubiquitously expressed proteins and for genes solely expressed in the testis. In this chapter, the currently available testicular stage-specific and/or cell type-specific DNA probes and the techniques by which they can be utilized in reproductive toxicology studies are discussed. The advantages, limitations, and future technological advances of this novel biological marker system for the human male reproductive system are also considered.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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