Chronic Background Radiation Correlates With Sperm Swimming Endurance in Bank Voles From Chernobyl

Sperm quantity and quality are key features explaining intra- interspecific variation in male reproductive success. Spermatogenesis is sensitive to ionizing radiation laboratory studies investigating acute effects of have indeed found negative on sperm quality. In nature, levels natural background vary dramatically, chronic low-level exposure spermatogenesis poorly understood. The Chernobyl region offers a unique research opportunity for properties wild organisms. We captured bank voles ( Myodes glareolus ) from 24 locations the exclusion zone 2011 2015 collected information morphology kinetics. dataset limited size there overall was relatively weak correlation between Still, some correlations worth discussing. First, mid-piece segments spermatozoa tended be smaller vole males areas with elevated levels. Second, we demonstrated significant positive relationship dose rates proportion static among within study after 10 as well 60 min incubation. Our results provide novel evidence damaging low performance rodent populations, highlight that this topic requires further across gradients exist nature.