Hydrogen-rich saline protects spermatogenesis and hematopoiesis in irradiated BALB/c mice

Summary

Background

Recent studies show that molecular hydrogen (dihydrogen, H₂) has potential as an effective and safe radioprotective agent through reducing oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate whether H₂ is able to protect spermatogenesis and hematopoiesis from radiation-induced injuries.

Material/Methods

H₂ was dissolved in physiological saline using an apparatus produced by our department. ⁶⁰Co-gamma rays in the irradiation centre were used for irradiation. Spermatid head counts and histological analysis were used to evaluate spermatogenesis. Endogenous hematopoietic spleen colony formation (endoCFUs), bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNC) and peripheral blood (PB) leukocytes were used to evaluate hemopoiesis.

Results

This study demonstrates that treating mice with H₂ before ionizing radiation (IR) can increase the spermatid head count and protect seminiferous epithelium from IR. This study also demonstrates that H₂ could significantly increase the number of endoCFUs, BMNC and PB leukocyte.

Conclusions

This study suggests that hydrogen-rich saline could partially protect spermatogenesis and hematopoiesis in irradiated mice.

Background

Spermatogenesis is a compound process of the germ cell of male proliferation and maturation from spermatogonia to spermatozoa [1]. Spermatogenesis is especially sensitive to ionizing radiation (IR); doses as low as 0.1 Gy are known to cause damage to spermatogonia [2–4]. Less than about 2% of men who received total-body IR are able to father children later in life [5]. The hematopoietic system is also known to be sensitive to IR, and myelosuppression is a critical issue for individuals exposed to IR [6]. Hemorrhage and infection are serious complications in hematopoietic syndrome. Hematopoietic transplantation is often performed in irradiated victims but has resulted in low efficacy in treatment of the syndrome [7,8].

In major part, detrimental effects of IR on biological tissue are mediated via increased production of hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Ohsawa et al. [9] found that hydrogen (H₂) could selectively reduce •OH and peroxynitrite radicals (ONOO−) in vitro and exert therapeutic antioxidant activity in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model. We demonstrated that H₂ treatment could protect cultured human cells and the gastrointestinal tract from gamma radiation in mice [10,11]. Terasaki et al. [12] demonstrated H₂ treatment could attenuate radiation pneumonitis in mice. These encouraging results prompted us to study if H₂ would be able to protect spermatogenesis and hematopoiesis from IR.

Material and Methods

Hydrogen-rich saline production

H₂ was dissolved in physiological saline for 6 h under high pressure (0.4 MPa) to a supersaturated level using a hydrogen-rich water-producing apparatus produced by our department. The saturated H₂ saline was stored under atmospheric pressure at 4°C in an aluminium bag with no dead volume. Hydrogen-rich saline was freshly prepared every week, which ensured that a concentration of more than 0.6 mmol/L was maintained. Gas chromatography was used to confirm the content of H₂ in saline by the method described by Ohsawa et al. [9].

Irradiation

⁶⁰Co-gamma rays in the irradiation centre (Faculty of Naval Medicine, Second Military Medical University, China) were used for irradiation. Mice (with or without H₂ pre-treatment) were exposed to different doses of radiation, depending upon the requirement of the present study.

Mice and treatment

All protocols were approved by the Second Military Medical University, China in accordance with the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the US NIH (publication No. 96-01). Male BALB/c mice (8 weeks old, weighing 22±1 g) were used in the experiments. The animals were housed in individual cages in a temperature-controlled room with a 12 h light/dark cycle and food and water were provided ad libitum. For experiments, mice were treated intraperitoneally (IP) with physiological saline or hydrogen-rich saline (5 ml/kg) 5 min before radiation. Mice were irradiated in a holder designed to immobilize anaesthetized mice such that the abdomens were presented to the beam.

Sample retrieval for evaluation of spermatogenesis

For evaluating spermatogenesis and detecting dose-response effects of testicular γ-rays [1,13,14], mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation under isoflurane anaesthesia at 29 d after irradiation. Body weight and testis weight were recorded. The left testis was stored at −20°C for spermatid head counts. The right testis was fixed in Bouin’s fluid for histological analysis.

Spermatid head counts

For testicular spermatid head counting, the testes were thawed at room temperature and then the tunica albuginea was removed. The testicular parenchyma was homogenized in 2 ml of 0.9% NaCl solution containing 0.1% Triton X-100, and the homogenized tissue was sonicated. After homogenization and sonication, an aliquot of the cell suspension was loaded on a hemocytometer and sonication-resistant spermatid heads were counted [15]. Number of spermatid heads in the testis was expressed as testicular spermatid number per gram testis (TSN).

Histological analysis

For histological analysis, the right testis was embedded in paraffin, sectioned to 4-μm-thick and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The quality of the seminiferous epithelium was evaluated in each sample on the basis of the Johnsen score (JS), which gives a score of 1–10 according to the presence or absence of the spermatogenic cell types [16]. JS for assessing the spermatogenesis depends on scoring each seminiferous tubule cross-section. The criteria are as follows: 10, complete spermatogenesis; 9, many spermatozoa present but disorganized spermatogenesis; 8, only a few spermatozoa present; 7, no spermatozoa but many spermatids present; 6, only a few spermatids present; 5, no spermatozoa or spermatids present but many spermatocytes present; 4, only a few spermatocytes present; 3, only spermatogonia present; 2, no germ cell present; and 1, no germ cell or Sertoli cell present. Mean score count was given to each sample. The tubule diameter was measured using a micrometer scale, the smallest diameter of 25 different, randomly selected round cross-sections of seminiferous tubules were measured for each sample. The average tubule diameter for each sample was calculated as a mean of these 25 values [17].

Endogenous hematopoietic spleen colony formation

For detecting endogenous hematopoietic spleen colony formation (endoCFUs), mice were killed 11 d after exposure to 7Gy of irradiation as described previously [18]. Body weight and spleen weight were recorded. Spleens were fixed in Bouin’s fluid for 24 h, and then the colonies on the surface of the spleens were scored.

Bone marrow nucleated cells

After exposure to 4Gy of irradiation, bone marrow (BM) cells were obtained from anesthetized mice by aseptic isolation of the femurs followed by a flushing of the marrow with RPMI 1640 medium, using a 25-gauge needle, and single cell suspensions were made as described previously [19]. BM cells were counted immediately using a hemocytometer.

Leukocyte counts

Peripheral blood (PB) samples were obtained from the tail vein of mice at different days after irradiation as described previously [19]. Numbers of PB leukocyte were determined with a hemocytometer.

Statistical analysis

Data are expressed as means ±SEM for each experiment. The number of samples is indicated in the description of each experiment. Statistical analysis was performed by using an analysis of variance (ANOVA). Between groups, variance was determined using the Student-Newman-Keuls post-hoc test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results

Organ index after irradiation

Body weight and organ weight were recorded at sacrifice, and organ index was calculated (organ index=organ weight/body weight ×100). Organ indices of testis/spleen in the H₂ groups were significantly higher than those of the non-H₂ groups (Figure 1A, B).

Figure 1.

Testis index after irradiation (A). Spleen index after irradiation (B). Organ index = organ weight/body weight ×100. The data were expressed as means ±SEM (n=8), ^*p<0.05.

Spermatid head counts

Testicular spermatid head counts were evaluated 29 d after irradiation to examine the ability of A₁ through B spermatogonia to survive and differentiate into late spermatids. As predicted, after exposure of mice to 0.5 Gy, 1.0 Gy, 2.0 Gy and 4.0 Gy radiation, spermatid head counts were 11.8×10⁷/g, 7.0×10⁷/g, 4.1×10⁷/g and 2.9×10⁷/g in the H₂ groups, respectively. These were 1.4-fold, 1.5-fold, 1.6-fold and 1.7-fold higher than those of the non-H₂ groups, which were 77.7%, 45.9%, 27.1% and 18.8% of normal nonirradiated control level (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Testicular spermatid heads number per gram testis (TSN, ×10⁷/g) 29 d after irradiation. The data were expressed as means ±SEM (n=8), ^*p<0.05.

Testicular histology

At 29 d after irradiation, spermatozoa and spermatids were decreased or absent in some tubules, and disordered and shrinking tubules were observed (Figure 3A). All these changes were ameliorated by H₂ pre-treatment (Figure 3B), (Figure 3C and D show tubule diameter and JS). As shown, H₂ pre-treatment significantly reduced the seminiferous epithelium injury caused by IR.

Figure 3.

Morphologic observation of the testicular tissue in γ-irradiated and H₂ pre-treated mice (400×). Note the cells lost, disordered and shrinking tubules after 4Gy γ-irradiation (A). All these changes were ameliorated by H₂ (B). The tubule diameter of mice 29 d after irradiation (C). JS of mice 29 d after irradiation (D). Sg, spermatogonia; Sp, spermatocytes; Sd, spermatids. The data were expressed as means ±SEM (n=8), ^*p<0.05.

Endogenous hematopoietic spleen colony formation

The numbers of endoCFUs/spleen, by group, were the normal control group, 1.5; the H₂ group, 6.4; the non-H₂ group, 2.1 (Figure 4A, B). The number of endoCFUs in mice of the H₂ group was approximately 3.1-fold higher than that in the non-H₂ group.

Figure 4.

Effect of H₂ administration on endogenous hematopoietic spleen colony formation in irradiated mice. Spleens in different groups (A). Number of spleen colonies in different groups (B). The data were expressed as means ±SEM (n=8), ^*p<0.05.

Bone marrow nucleated cells

Radiation clearly decreased numbers of bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNC) and induced hematopoiesis suppression in both irradiated groups, and recovery of nucleated cells started at day 6 after irradiation. Compared to the non-H₂ group, H₂ pre-treatment clearly accelerated hematopoietic recovery by the increase of BMNC numbers (Figure 5). At day 30 after 4Gy irradiation, the number of nucleated cells in the H₂ group returned to 9.2×10⁶/femur, as compared to 6.6×10⁶/femur in the non-H₂ group.

Figure 5.

Number of bone marrow nucleated cells on different days after 4Gy irradiation (×10⁶/femur). The data were expressed as means ±SEM (n=3), ^*p<0.05.

Leukocyte counts

Leukocyte counts declined rapidly and elevated gradually from day 9 following irradiation. Within the whole post-irradiation period, the recovery of leukocytes in the H₂ groups was significantly faster than the non-H₂ groups (Figure 6). At day 30 after 2Gy irradiation, leukocyte counts in the H₂ group returned to 4.65×10⁹/L, as compared to 3.05×10⁹/L in the non-H₂ group. At day 30 after 4Gy irradiation, leukocyte counts in the H₂ group returned to 3.40×10⁹/L, as compared to 2.39×10⁹/L in the non-H₂ group.

Figure 6.

Leukocyte counts on different days after irradiation in different groups (×10⁹/L). The data were expressed as means ±SEM (n=3), ^*p<0.05, compared with group 2Gy; ^#p<0.05, compared with group 4Gy.

Discussion

To our knowledge, 60–70% of the ionizing radiation-induced tissue damage was caused by •OH [20]. •OH can easily react with cellular macromolecules such as DNA, proteins and lipids, to exert strong cytotoxic effects. It has been reported that free radical scavengers could effectively ameliorate oxidative injuries due to IR [21–23]. Ohsawa et al. [9] found that H₂ could effectively neutralize •OH in living cells. H₂ will penetrate biomembranes, and then diffuse into the cytosol, mitochondria and nucleus. Its rapid gaseous diffusion might make it highly effective for reducing cytotoxic radicals, unlike most known antioxidants which are unable to successfully target organelles [24]. H₂ will react with only the strongest oxidants (•OH and ONOO−) and is mild enough not to disturb metabolic oxidation-reduction reactions or to disturb reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cell signaling, unlike some antioxidants with strong reductive reactivity which might increase mortality by affecting vital defensive mechanisms [25]. H₂ is continuously produced by colonic bacteria in the body, normally circulates in the blood [26] and reacts with •OH to produce water [27]. It is physiologically safe for humans to ingest H₂ at a relatively low concentration [28]. Dissolving H₂ in physiological saline has no risk of flammability or explosion and is easy to apply.

Our previous study showed that H₂ pre-treatment could protect gastrointestinal endothelia from IR [10], and Terasaki et al. [12] showed that H₂ pre-treatment could prevent radiation pneumonitis from IR. The radioprotective effect results from H₂, which could decrease the attack of •OH, prevent DNA damage and decrease lipid peroxidation, thereby decreasing the deleterious effects of radiation. The aims of this study were to investigate whether H₂ is able to protect spermatogenesis and hematopoiesis from radiation-induced injuries.

IR exposure of the testes mainly targets actively dividing germ cells without causing significant injury to Sertoli cells [14]. The decrease of testis weight after irradiation reflects elimination of germ cell populations [29]. Differentiating spermatogonia were the cell types most vulnerable to IR. Cell identification is difficult, and the presence of a cell does not guarantee its subsequent function and viability [30]. Based on the kinetics of spermatogenesis, spermatid head counts were evaluated 29 d after irradiation to examine the ability of A₁ through B spermatogonia to survive and differentiate into late spermatids. The spermatid head count is a sensitive indicator in detecting adverse effects on spermatogenesis; however, it should be followed by histological analysis in detecting integrated effects on spermatogenesis. The tubule diameter and JS were simple and clear methods to quantify the seminiferous epithelium. In our study, we observed significant decrease of testis index, spermatid head count, the tubule diameter and JS in irradiated mice. However, pre-treatment of H₂ prior to radiation exposure increased the levels of testis index, spermatid head count, the tubule diameter and JS.

Myelosuppression is the major syndrome of hematopoietic system damaged by total-body exposure to IR. The spleen, as a part of hematopoietic system, involves the regulatory mechanism of BM hemopoiesis; spleen index reflects its function status [31]. It is generally agreed that impairment of BM hematopoietic function and PB cells ultimately lead to hemorrhage and infection [19]. Accordingly, endoCFUs counts, BMNC counts and PB leukocyte counts were used to evaluate hemopoiesis. The endoCFUs is a good indicator of stem cell viability and/or the stimulation, proliferation and survival of cells recovering from exposure to IR [19]. The quantity of BMNC is a good indicator of the hemopoietic function of marrow after irradiation. Additional indicator of hemopoietic injury of BM induced by IR was the changes in the numbers of PB leukocytes. In our study, pre-treatment of H₂ prior to radiation exposure increased the levels of spleen index, endoCFUs, BMNC and PB leukocytes in irradiated mice compared with mice irradiated without H₂.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we showed that hydrogen-rich saline could partially protect spermatogenesis and hematopoiesis in irradiated mice (the protective effects by H₂ have been shown to be statistically different from non-H₂ group, but the extent of the protective effects seem to be limited). Although our investigations might provide some quantitative basis for the possible use of H₂ as a radioprotector, further studies are necessary to determine the exact mechanism.