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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

65 IMPACT OF AIRPORT RADIATION ON BOVINE SPERM DNA INTEGRITY, FERTILIZING ABILITY, AND EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT

K. E. M. Hendricks A , D. Evenson B , P. J. Hansen A , M. Kaproth C and L. M. Penfold D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A University of Florida, Gainesville, FL;

B South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD;

C AVP Laboratories and Research, Genex Cooperative, Ithaca, NY;

D White Oak Conservation Center, Yulee, FL

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 21(1) 132-133 https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv21n1Ab65
Published: 9 December 2008

Abstract

Biological samples, including cryopreserved sperm, are routinely shipped using air transportation, in dry shippers that are x-rayed along with routine baggage. Accordingly, it is important to demonstrate that there are no potential risks associated with semen transport. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of airport radiation used for a) checked luggage and b) carry-on luggage on bovine sperm DNA integrity, fertilizing ability, and embryo development. Frozen domestic bull sperm collected from known fertile bulls (n = 9) and stored in a dry shipper (–196°C) were x-rayed 0, 1, 2, and 3 times as a) checked luggage and b) carry-on luggage. Duplicate straws were thawed and assessed for DNA damage using the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA®, SCSA Diagnostics, Brookings, SD) and fertilization and embryo development by in vitro fertilization. The SCSA® parameters are the mean and SD of the DNA fragmentation index (mean DFI and SD DFI). Multiple x-rays did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect sperm chromatin heterogeneity assessed by SCSA® and no differences were observed in the mean, SD, and DFI for any of the sperm treatments. No differences (P > 0.05) were seen in embryo cleavage or blastocyst development rates (expressed as percentage of oocytes becoming blastocysts or percentage of cleaved embryos becoming blastocysts) for sperm x-rayed 0, 1, 2, or 3 times using either checked or carry-on luggage doses. The percentage of oocytes developing to the blastocyst stage was 13.8, 11.5, 12.8, and 9.0% (SEM = 2.3%) for sperm exposed to the checked luggage dose 0, 1, 2, and 3 times. The percentage of oocytes developing to the blastocyst stage was 13.0, 12.8, 14.0, and 13.5% (SEM = 3.5%) for sperm exposed to the carry-on luggage dose 0, 1, 2, and 3 times. As future x-ray machines are planned that deliver greater doses of radiation to scan large quantities of baggage with a single scan, it is important that continued monitoring of shipped sperm is performed.

The authors are grateful to Lara Metrione, Brian Delauter, and the TSA staff at Jacksonville Airport for assistance with this study.