Aspermy, sperm quality and radiation in Chernobyl birds.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Following the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, large amounts of radionuclides were emitted and spread in the environment. Animals living in such contaminated areas are predicted to suffer fitness costs including reductions in the quality and quantity of gametes.

Methodology/principal findings

We studied whether aspermy and sperm quality were affected by radioactive contamination by examining ejaculates from wild caught birds breeding in areas varying in background radiation level by more than three orders of magnitude around Chernobyl, Ukraine. The frequency of males with aspermy increased logarithmically with radiation level. While 18.4% of males from contaminated areas had no sperm that was only the case for 3.0% of males from uncontaminated control areas

SUBMITTER: Moller AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4070951 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature