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Updated: May 20, 2026
An In Vivo Method to Study Mouse Blood-Testis Barrier Integrity
Published on: December 2, 2018
Effects of electromagnetic pulse irradiation on the mouse blood-testicle barrier
Wu-Gang Hou1, Jie Zhao, Zhen Li
1Department of Anesthesiology, Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, China.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of electromagnetic pulse irradiation on the mouse blood-testicle barrier (BTB) and spermatogenesis.
Methods:
After whole body irradiation with 400 kV/m electromagnetic pulse irradiation, the mouse testicles and BTB permeability were observed using hematoxylin-eosin, Evans blue, and lanthanum nitrate as tracers. The expression of the BTB tight junction protein occludin was examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting.
Results:
At 1, 7, and 14 days after irradiation, the BTB structure was damaged, the BTB permeability was significantly increased, numerous apoptotic or necrotic spermatogenic cells were found in the lumen, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of occludin were markedly decreased. The BTB structure and occludin expression levels had gradually recovered by 21 and 28 days after irradiation.
Conclusion:
Electromagnetic pulse irradiation damaged the structure and function of mouse BTB, resulting in apoptosis or necrosis of the spermatogenic cells.
