The toxicological mechanism of low sperm motility induced by iron ion radiation (IIR) was investigated in mice. Reproductive organ indices were measured following whole-body irradiation with a 2Gy iron ion beam. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence were used to analyze protein expression, and real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to confirm altered gene expression. Reproductive organ indices and sperm motility were lowest 2 weeks after IIR. Sperm function changes via testis and cauda epididymis function were also determined at this time point. Sixteen differentially expressed proteins were identified in sperm 2 weeks after IIR. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that alpha-enolase (Eno1) may be important in the regulation of glycolysis in sperm, and Eno1 expression was correlated with sperm motility. Eno1 may be a potential marker for low sperm motility induced by IIR, and these results may provide a useful reference for changes in astronaut fertility during long space missions.
Keywords: Motility; Proteomics; Space radiation; Sperm.
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