Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 53, Issue 5 1207-1212, Copyright © 1982 by American Physiological Society
Reduction in fertility of male mice after exposure to high environmental pressure
J. M. Baden, C. J. Dore, C. J. Green, S. Monk, M. J. Halsey and B. Wardley-Smith
Male mice were exposed to 50 ATA heliox pressure to study whether their
functional fertility was affected. In series I, control mice were exposed
to 1 ATA air; in series II controls were exposed to 5 ATA heliox, which
enabled the PO2 and environmental temperature to be maintained at
equivalent levels to the pressure group. After exposure during one
spermatogenic cycle, the mice were mated with untreated females. There was
a dramatic reduction in fertility in the pressure groups, with males in
both series I and II showing a 65% reduction in fertility. Overall results
were as follows: 19.5% pregnant females mated with the pressure groups
compared with 55% pregnant in the control groups. Litter sizes in the
pressure groups were reduced by 44%, but there was no evidence of any
pressure-related teratological effect. This reduction in fertility appears
to be due to high pressure per se and not to the high environmental
temperature and PO2 associated with heliox atmospheres.
