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Biological Dosimetry of Sperm Analyzed by Conventional Methods: Cautions and Opportunities

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Biological Dosimetry

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Abstract

Increasing concern for heritable consequences of exposure to mutagens, carcinogens, and teratogens has encouraged development of semen bioassays. Today, these bio-assays are based largely on conventional andrological methods. But analytical cytology offers many new approaches with potential to increase the speed, accuracy, sensitivity, and resolution of measuring biologically relevant reproductive effects of exposure to noxious agents. The objective of this article is to review the dynamic processes leading to the formation of mammalian sperm, to illustrate how some reproductive disorders affect semen quality, to summarize some of the more pertinent dosimetric applications of conventional (not automated cytologic) semen assays and to point out significant differences in species characteristics that can influence hazard evaluation based on changes in semen quality.

Work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract number W-7405-ENG-48

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Division, University of California, P.O. Box 5507 L-452, Livermore, California, 94550, USA

    Barton L. Gledhill

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  1. Barton L. Gledhill
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Arbeitsgruppe Zytometrie, Gesellschaft für Strahlen- und Umweltforschung mbH, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, 3000, Hannover 21, Germany

    Wolfgang G. Eisert

  2. Biologische Forschung, Dr. K. Thomae GmbH, 7950, Biberach-Riss, Germany

    Wolfgang G. Eisert

  3. Biomedical Sciences Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 5570, 94550, Livermore, CA, USA

    Mortimer L. Mendelsohn

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© 1984 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Gledhill, B.L. (1984). Biological Dosimetry of Sperm Analyzed by Conventional Methods: Cautions and Opportunities. In: Eisert, W.G., Mendelsohn, M.L. (eds) Biological Dosimetry. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69334-2_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69334-2_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-12790-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-69334-2

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