ABSTRACT
This paper investigates the mechanism of action of heavy ion radiation (HIR) on mouse testes. The testes of male mice subjected to whole body irradiation with carbon ion beam (0.5 and 4Gy) were analyzed at 7days after irradiation. A two-dimensional gel electrophoresis approach was employed to investigate the alteration of protein expression in the testes. Spot detection and matching were performed using the PDQuest 8.0 software. A difference of more than threefold in protein quantity (normalized spot volume) is the standard for detecting differentially expressed protein spots. A total of 11 differentially expressed proteins were found. Protein identification was performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF). Nine specific proteins were identified by searching the protein sequence database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. These proteins were found involved in molecular chaperones, metabolic enzymes, oxidative stress, sperm function, and spermatogenic cell proliferation. HIR decreased glutathione activity and increased malondialdehyde content in the testes. Given that Pin1 is related to the cell cycle and that proliferation is affected by spermatogenesis, we analyzed testicular histological changes and Pin1 protein expression through immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Alterations of multiple pathways may be associated with HIR toxicity to the testes. Our findings are essential for studies on the development, biology, and pathology of mouse testes after HIR in space or radiotherapy.