西安市1995-2008年检出脊髓灰质炎疫苗病毒的急性弛缓性麻痹病例流行病学分析

分析脊髓灰质炎(脊灰)病毒(PV)的急性弛缓性麻痹(AFP)病例流行病学特征,提高对疫苗衍生脊灰病毒(VDPVs)和循环的疫苗衍生脊灰病毒(cVDPVs)的认识,增加AFP病例监测系统敏感性。对西安市1995-2008年检出的PV阳性AFP病例进行流行病学分析。对疫苗变异PV采用VP1基因核苷酸序列测定方法进行分子生物性状分析。西安市1995-2008年共检出PV13株,检出率4.29%。分离到的PV以II、III型为主,AFP病例散在发生,无聚集性。未全程免疫儿童(全程免疫儿童,年龄以≤1岁儿童为主(84.62%)。麻痹残留率高达84.62%。脊灰相关病例(VAPP)的发生危险性为0.24/100万。型内特征鉴定有1株为疫苗变异PV,经VP1基因核苷酸序列测定未达到VDPV的分类标准。维持无脊灰阶段,存在着VDPV和发生cVDPVs的可能,在保持高水平脊髓灰质炎疫苗(OPV)免疫覆盖率的同时,高质量的AFP病例流行病学监测和病毒学监测工作,具有重要的现实意义。     

福建省脊髓灰质炎疫苗转换前后AFP病例病原学监测结果分析

自2016年5月1日起,我国与全球另外154个国家和地区同步实施脊髓灰质炎(以下简称"脊灰")疫苗免疫策略转换,停用三价口服脊灰减毒活疫苗,改用二价口服脊灰减毒活疫苗.为探讨脊灰疫苗转换对福建省急性弛缓性麻痹(Acute flaccid paralysis,AFP)病例监测结果产生的变化,本研究收集2012-2018年福建省AFP病例的流行病学及实验室监测数据,对脊灰疫苗转换前后AFP病例的监测结果进行描述性分析,采集AFP病例及其接触者粪便标本,并使用RD细胞和L20B细胞进行病毒分离;对L20B阳性分离物进行脊灰病毒(Poliovirus,PV)的型内鉴别(Intratypic differentiation,ITD),对PV衣壳蛋白VP1编码区核苷酸序列测定和分析.使用SPSS 21.0软件对数据进行统计检验,比较采用X2检验.结果显示,2012-2018年福建省累计报告AFP病例1 776例,根据AFP病例分类流程确诊的AFP病例1 283例,排除的非AFP病例493例,疫苗转换前后报告发病率平均为2.83/10万和2.71/10万.实验室共检测3123份粪便标本(包括AFP病例、非AFP病例及接触者),其中合格标本采集率为92.42％,7日及时送检率为97.85％,14日内病毒分离完成率接近100％,疫苗转换前后PV平均分离率分别为1.91％(38/1986)、1.58％(18/1137),非脊灰肠道病毒平均分离率分别为10.22％(203/1 986)、5.45％(62/1 137).2016年5月1日之前分离出Ⅰ型PV6株,Ⅱ型PV 13株,Ⅲ型PV 19株;2016年5月1日之后分离出Ⅰ型PV 6株,Ⅲ型PV 12株.本研究结果提示,脊灰疫苗转换前后福建省AFP监测系统运转正常,始终保持较高的敏感性和及时性.2012-2018年福建省分离出的PV均为脊灰疫苗株,毒株血清型别以Ⅲ型为主,VP1编码区核苷酸以低变异为主,未发现疫苗衍生脊灰病毒及脊灰野病毒,疫苗转换后再未检出Ⅱ型PV,提示Ⅱ型脊灰疫苗株病毒可能已被阻断.     

云南省1例疫苗衍生株脊髓灰质炎病毒病例的调查分析

本调查旨在了解2010年云南省昭通市1株脊髓灰质炎Ⅱ型疫苗衍生毒株(Vaccine-derived poliovirus,VDPV)引起的病例的流行病学特征、该病例的排毒情况及其周围健康儿童的肠道病毒(EV)携带情况和病毒型别特征。在该病例的发生地进行现场流行病学调查,连续采集病例粪便标本,采集密切接触者及病例居住地健康儿童粪便标本进行病毒分离和型别鉴定。经省级专家组最终分类诊断为VDPV病例;实验室结果显示病例标本中未再检出VDPV;密切接触者及周围健康儿童标本中均未检测到脊灰疫苗株病毒及VDPV,AFP病例入户主动搜索未发现类似病例,表明该病毒未在当地造成循环;在健康儿童中检测到NPEV 21株,病毒携带率为20.0%;经VP1区核苷酸序列测定,21株NPEV分别属于HEV-A组(11株,3个血清型,占52.4%)和HEV-B组(10株,4个血清型,47.6%)。     

2017-2021年宁夏急性驰缓性麻痹病例监测系统非脊灰肠道病毒病原鉴定分析

为了解宁夏急性驰缓性麻痹病例中（acute flaccid paralysis,AFP）非脊灰肠道病毒（non-polio enterovirus,NPEV）的流行,本研究对宁夏2017-2021年急性驰缓性麻痹病例监测中分离到的NPEV进行型别鉴定和基因进化分析。按照监测方案要求采用RD细胞和L20B细胞分离病毒,分离到的病毒进行VP1区的全部核苷酸序列测定、基因型别鉴定分析、系统发生学分析。2017-2021年共收到969份粪便标本,其中AFP病例标本290份,密接者标本679份。从969份标本中共分离到55株NPEV,AFP病例中分离率6.16%(9/146,以例计),密接者人群分离率6.7%(46/679)。其中53株鉴定成功,分别属于人肠道病毒HEV-A、HEV-B、HEV-C组,包含16个血清型别,其中HEV-A组24株（45.2%）,5个血清型,以EV-A71、CVA10、coxsackieviruses (CV)CVA4、为主;HEV-B组28株（54.7%）,10个血清型,以echoviruses(ECHO)30、CVB5、CVB3为主,HEV-C组1株为CVA24,...     

2010年山东省环境污水中脊髓灰质炎病毒的监测及其基因特征分析

本研究在山东省开展了脊髓灰质炎病毒(Poliovirus,PV)的外环境监测,从济南、临沂两地采集污水标本,浓缩处理后进行病毒分离,对分离到的PV采用中和试验进行血清定型,并对其VP1及3D区进行序列测定,分析其基因突变和重组情况。2010年,共采集污水标本32份,PV阳性10份,阳性率31.3%;分离到18株PV(PV1型3株,PV2型9株,PV3型6株),均为疫苗相关株,VP1完整编码区核苷酸变异数在0~4个之间,在3株PV2型病毒和4株PV3型病毒的基因组中发现重组;对VP1区影响神经毒力的减毒位点分析发现,PV1型病毒中有1株在nt 2 749发生突变(A→G),PV2型病毒中有1株在nt2 908发生A→G突变,3株在nt2 909发生U→C突变,6株PV3型病毒全部在nt2 493发生C→U突变。环境污水中可以分离到PV,其基因重组率和主要减毒位点的回复突变率较高,未发现脊灰野毒株和疫苗衍生株脊灰病毒(Vaccine-derived poliovirus,VDPV)。     

中国急性弛缓性麻痹(AFP)病例中脊髓灰质炎病毒疫苗株VP1区基因变异的研究

为研究中国急性弛缓性麻痹(AFP)病例中脊髓灰质炎(简称脊灰)病毒分离株的分子特征,为中国继续维持"无脊灰野毒状态"提供理论依据,对2002年所有省级疾病预防控制中心送检的脊灰分离株,用PCR-RFLP法及ELISA法进行型内鉴定.用PCR-RFLP法筛查出与疫苗株相比有异常酶切图谱的毒株共24株,其中Ⅰ型毒株1株,Ⅱ型毒株21株,Ⅲ型毒株2株;用ELISA法筛查出与疫苗株相比有不同的抗原抗体反应的毒株共22株,其中Ⅰ型毒株7株,Ⅱ型毒株4株,Ⅲ型毒株11株,在7株Ⅰ型毒株中有3株为非疫苗类似株(NSL),其余为双反应毒株(DRV).随后对这46株毒株进行了全VP1区的基因序列分析.结果表明:2002年脊灰分离株都是疫苗株或疫苗衍生株,没有发现野毒株,中国继续保持着"无脊灰野毒状态";口服减毒活疫苗(OPV)株与其它野毒株在稳定性性质方面是类似的,即通常是不稳定的,在人体肠道内有很强的选择性;在人体肠道内,病毒复制产生的基因变异导致毒力升高,是引起疫苗相关麻痹病例(VAPP)的重要原因,但宿主本身的因素也有很大的作用;在局部地区有疫苗株的循环或脊灰疫苗衍生株(VDPV)的存在;最终消除疫苗株引起的AFP病例可能还需要脊灰灭活疫苗(IPV)的介入.     

PCR法检测外环境水中脊髓灰质炎病毒Ⅰ型基因的研究

应用聚合酶链反应（PCR）技术检测外环境水中分离的脊髓灰质炎病毒Ⅰ型（PVⅠ）毒株基因型,发现所分离的22株病毒．均为疫苗SabinⅠ相关株．脊髓灰质炎病毒的温度敏感（T特征）试验亦提示为弱毒株,与PCR试验相吻合。表明在实施强化免疫和常规免疫后,外环境中的脊髓灰质炎病毒已被疫苗相关株循环所取代。同时证实用PCR作为环境中PVⅠ病毒株的基因型分析的检测方法是特异和敏感的。     

中国首例iVDPVs病例粪便标本中病毒血清型分布和Ⅲ型iVDPVs VP1区基因特征

分析中国首例免疫缺陷疫苗衍生脊髓灰质炎病毒(immunodeficient vaccine-derived polioviruses,iVDPVs)急性弛缓性麻痹(acute flaccid paralysis,AFP)病例(实验室编号为9230)12份便标本中病毒血清型分布和分离物中Ⅲ型VP1区的基因特征。31个省的疾病预防控制中心脊髓灰质炎(脊灰)实验室网络,在2005年采用细胞培养、病毒分离和微量中和试验从5231例AFP病例中的293例的便标本中分离到脊灰病毒,其中从1例编号为9230的AFP病例发病2~150天的12份便标本中分离到17株脊灰病毒株,包括Ⅱ型12株,Ⅲ型5株。用PCR-RFLP和ELISA两种方法对送检的293例AFP病例中分离的病毒进行型内鉴定,VP1区序列测定和分析发现:从9230号病例粪便标本中分离的12株Ⅱ型为混合不同变异数目的Ⅱ型iVDPVs,5株Ⅲ型病毒为单一Ⅲ型iVDPVs;除9230号病例外未发现其它iVDPVs或疫苗衍生脊灰病毒(vaccine-derived polioviruses,VDPVs)。5株Ⅲ型iVDPVs的VP1区基因和SabinⅢ相比有22~24个碱基突变,同源性为97.33%~97.56%,是中国至今发现变异最大的Ⅲ型VDPVs。9230号病例临床诊断为X-连锁低/无丙种球蛋白血症,是在中国首次发现的iVDPVs病例,该病例的病毒分离物中同时存在Ⅱ型和Ⅲ型iVDPVs,Ⅲ型iVDPVs在患者体内至少复制2.5年以上,iVDPVs病例的持续排毒已经给中国维持无脊灰状态提出了新的挑战。     

2018年河南省肠道病毒环境监测结果分析

通过对2018年河南省环境污水中肠道病毒(Enterovirus,EV)的持续监测,了解河南省环境污水中脊灰病毒(PV)和非脊灰肠道病毒(NPEV)的血清型分布及流行情况.选取了河南省东、西、南、北、中部的五个城市,对每个城市有10万～30万人共同使用的下水管网的地区进行污水采样,每两个月采集1次,每次采集两份污水样品,采集持续1年,对污水样品进行浓缩,将浓缩液接种至RD细胞、L20B细胞和HEp-2细胞进行病毒分离.对病毒分离物进行VP1区核苷酸序列测定分析,采用最大似然法构建系统进化树对EV进行分子定型,并进行核苷酸相似性分析.共采集污水样品60份,分离到EV阳性毒株16株(26.67％),分别为8株CVB5、3株E7、3株E11、1株CVB5+E11混合株;1株PVIII;环境监测标本与急性弛缓性麻痹(Acute flaccid paralysis,AFP)病例标本,在济源市和周口市分离到的CVB5比例有一致性,郑州市和济源市分离到的E7比例有一致性;污水标本中阳性毒株的检出时间要早于AFP病例标本中同种毒株型别的检出时间1～3个月.来源于AFP病例监测和环境监测的CVB5之间的核苷酸相似性为94.7％～99.6％,来源于AFP病例监测和环境监测的E7之间的核苷酸相似性为92.5％～100.0％.来源于AFP病例监测和环境监测的CVB5属于同一个基因型,E7也是同一个基因型,甚至是同一个病毒传播链.河南省2018年建立了环境监测方法,是AFP病例监测的有益的补充,也可对人类肠道病毒病流行或暴发进行预测和预警.     

Tuning of electronic properties of one-dimensional cyano-bridged Cu-Ni, Cu-Pd, and Cu-Pt bimetallic assemblies by stereochemistry of ligands

Preparations, XPS and electronic spectroscopy, and magnetism of seven new one-dimensional cyano-bridged coordination polymers, chiral [Cu(RR-chxn)₂][Pd(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (1), [Cu(trans-chxn)₂][M(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (2, 4, and 6 for M = Pd, Ni, and Pt), and [Cu(cis-chxn)₂][M(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (3, 5, and 7 for M = Pd, Ni, and Pt) (RR-chxn = cyclohexane-(1R,2R)-diamine, trans-chxn = racemic trans-cyclohexane-(1,2)-diamine, and cis-chxn = racemic cis-cyclohexane-(1,2)-diamine) have been reported in view of tuning of their electronic properties by stereochemistry of chxn ligands and metal-substitution. Comparison of Cu 2p_1/2 and 2p_3/2 peaks of XPS and broad d-d bands around 18 000 cm⁻¹ of electronic spectra are described systematically for 1-7. Variable-temperature magnetic measurement shows that complexes 1-7 indicate weak antiferromagnetic interactions via cyano-bridges. Because of semi-coordination coupled with pseudo Jahn-Teller elongation and electrostatic interaction for 1, the axial Cu-N coordination bond distances of 2.330(7) and 3.092(8) Å are considerably longer than those of equatorial ones in the range from 2.016(6) to 2.030(6) Å. The former bond distances of 1 are intermediate values among the related Ni (2.324(6) and 3.120(8) Å) and Pt (2.34(1) and 3.09(1) Å) complexes.     

Structure and function of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase

In mammals, S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AdoHcyase) is the only known enzyme to catalyze the breakdown of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) to homocysteine and adenosine. AdoHcy is the product of all adenosylmethionine (AdoMet)-dependent biological transmethylations. These reactions have a wide range of products, and are common in all facets of biometabolism. As a product inhibitor, elevated levels of AdoHcy suppress AdoMet-dependent transmethylations. Thus, AdoHcyase is a regulator of biological transmethylation in general. The three-dimensional structure of AdoHcyase complexed with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADH) and the inhibitor (1′R, 2′S, 3′R)-9-(2′,3′-dihyroxycyclopenten-1-yl)adenine (DHCeA) was solved by a combination of the crystallographic direct methods program, SnB, to determine the selenium atom substructure and by treating the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction data as a special case of multiple isomorphous replacement. The enzyme architecture resembles that observed for NAD-dependent dehydrogenases, with the catalytic domain and the cofactor binding domain each containing a modified Rossmann fold. The two domains form a deep active site cleft containing the cofactor and bound inhibitor molecule. A comparison of the inhibitor complex of the human enzyme and the structure of the rat enzyme, solved without inhibitor, suggests that a 17° rigid body movement of the catalytic domain occurs upon inhibitor/substrate binding.     

Influence of Fluoride on Rat Kidney Antioxidant System: Effects of Methionine and Vitamin E

The aim of the study has been to determine and compare the influence upon the kidney antioxidative system, exercised by administration of vitamin E, and vitamin E in combination with methionine, under conditions of oxidative stress induced by sodium fluoride. The experiment was carried out on Wistar FL rats (adult males) that, for 35 days, were administered water, NaF, NaF with vitamin E, or vitamin E with methionine (doses: 10 mg NaF/kg of body mass/24 h, 3 mg vitamin E per 10 μl per rat for 24 h, 2 mg methionine per rat for 24 h). The influence of administered sodium fluoride and antioxidants upon the antioxidative system in kidney was examined by analyzing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of the most important antioxidative enzymes (SOD, total and both its isoenzymes, GPX, GST, GR, and CAT). The studies carried out confirmed the disadvantageous effect of the administered dose of NaF upon the antixodiative system in rats (increase in the concentration MDA, decrease activity of all antioxidative enzymes). The administration of vitamin E increased the activity of studied enzymes with the exception of glutathione reductase GR; it also reduced the procesess of lipid peroxidation. It has been found that combined doses of vitamin E and methionine were most effective in inhibiting lipid peroxidation processes. The results confirmed the antioxidative properties of methionine.     

Reorientation of Microfibrils and Microtubules at the Outer Epidermal Wall of Maize Coleoptiles During Auxin-Mediated Growth

Auxin-mediated elongation growth of isolated subapical coleoptile segments of maize (Zea mays L.) is controlled by the extensibility of the outer cell wall of the outer epidermis (Kutschera et al., 1987). Here we investigate the hypothesis that auxin controls the extensibility of this wall by changing the orientation of newly deposited microfibrils through a corresponding change in the orientation of cortical microtubules. On the basis of electron micrographs it is shown that cessation of growth after removal of the endogenous source of auxin is correlated with a relative increase of longitudinally orientated microfibrils and microtubules at the inner wall surface. Conversely, reinduction of growth by exogenous auxin is correlated with a relative increase of transversely orientated microfibrils and microtubules at the inner wall surface. These changes can be detected 30–60 min after the removal and addition of auxin, respectively. The functional significance of directional changes of newly desposited wall microfibrils for the control of elongation growth is discussed.     

Land,livestock, and livelihoods: Changing dynamics of gender,caste, and ethnicity in a Nepalese Village

Over the past 10 years, Ghusel VDC, Lalitpur District has moved from primarily subsistence agriculture into the wider cash economy aided by the Small Farmers' Development Program (SFDP), which provides credit to farmers mainly for the purchase of buffalo for milk production, and by the National Dairy Corporation, which supports local dairy cooperatives. Analysis reveals that buffalo-keeping and milk sales are increasing the well-being of many households, while at the same time creating new inequalities in gender roles and responsibilities, greater inequities between Brahmin and Tamang residents in Ghusel, and placing pressures on the ecosystem for increased supplies of fodder and fuelwood. Evidence suggests that there is critical, need for attention to the social, and particularly gender-based, implications of maintaining livestock for milk sales and to the ecological underpinnings of this livelihood system.     

Chiral Separation of G‐type Chemical Warfare Nerve Agents via Analytical Supercritical Fluid Chromatography

Chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNAs) are extremely toxic organophosphorus compounds that contain a chiral phosphorus center. Undirected synthesis of G‐type CWNAs produces stereoisomers of tabun, sarin, soman, and cyclosarin (GA, GB, GD, and GF, respectively). Analytical‐scale methods were developed using a supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) system in tandem with a mass spectrometer for the separation, quantitation, and isolation of individual stereoisomers of GA, GB, GD, and GF. Screening various chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for the capacity to provide full baseline separation of the CWNAs revealed that a Regis WhelkO1 (SS) column was capable of separating the enantiomers of GA, GB, and GF, with elution of the P(+) enantiomer preceding elution of the corresponding P(–) enantiomer; two WhelkO1 (SS) columns had to be connected in series to achieve complete baseline resolution. The four diastereomers of GD were also resolved using two tandem WhelkO1 (SS) columns, with complete baseline separation of the two P(+) epimers. A single WhelkO1 (RR) column with inverse stereochemistry resulted in baseline separation of the GD P(–) epimers. The analytical methods described can be scaled to allow isolation of individual stereoisomers to assist in screening and development of countermeasures to organophosphorus nerve agents. Chirality 26:817–824, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. Chirality published by John Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

In vitro studies of the rabbit immune system. IV. Differential mitogen responses of isolated T and B cells.

The mitogenic responses of separated rabbit lymphocyte populations functionally analogous to mouse T and B cells have been tested in vitro. Purified T cells were prepared by passage over nylon wool (NW) and purified B cells prepared by treatment with antithymocyte serum and complement (ATS + C). ATS + C kills 70% of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL's) and 50% of the spleen cells while passage over NW yields 40% of the applied PBL's and 5–23% of the applied spleen cells. NW-purified T cells from the spleen or PBL's respond fully to concanavalin A (Con A) but have a reduced response to phytohemaglutinin (PHA) and little or no response to goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin (anti-Ig). PBL's that survive ATS + C (B cells) are stimulated by anti-Ig but not by Con A or PHA. B cells purified from spleen do not respond to Con A or PHA but will respond to anti-Ig under appropriate conditions. A full spleen B-cell response to anti-Ig required removal of Ig produced by the cultures that blocked anti-Ig stimulation. It is concluded that, for rabbit lymphocytes, Con A and PHA are primarily T-cell mitogens and that anti-Ig is primarily a B-cell mitogen. However, the mitogen response of unfractionated PBL or spleen cell populations indicates an overlap in reactivity. This could be due to cells sharing T and B properties, alteration of cell populations by the fractionation procedures used, or recruitment of one population in the presence of a mitogenic response of the other population.     

邻苯二甲酸二丁酯对翡翠贻贝抗氧化酶及脂质过氧化水平的影响

实验室条件下,研究了不同浓度邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)长期胁迫(15 d)对翡翠贻贝内脏团和外套膜抗氧化酶(超氧化物歧化酶SOD、过氧化氢酶CAT)及脂质过氧化(LPO)水平(以MDA含量表示)的影响,以及受胁迫翡翠贻贝在清洁海水中恢复阶段上述生化指标的变化特征.结果表明:胁迫阶段,0.5和2.5 mg.L-1DBP下翡翠贻贝内脏团SOD活性表现为先抑制后逐渐恢复,12.5和62.5 mg.L-1下则持续受到显著抑制;不同浓度组CAT活性均明显被抑制.LPO水平明显升高.外套膜中,2.5 mg.L-1下SOD活性受到持续诱导,其他浓度组则先被抑制,后随曝露时间延长逐渐被诱导;各浓度组CAT的变化波动较大,没有明显规律;而LPO水平明显升高.净化恢复阶段,12.5和62.5 mg.L-1DBP胁迫下的内脏团SOD和CAT活性恢复较慢,其LPO水平随时间延长逐渐恢复至对照组水平;外套膜中SOD活性呈持续升高趋势,CAT活性和LPO水平则随时间延长恢复到对照组水平.     

多马胺能药物对鲇鱼促性腺激素（GtH）分泌活动的影响

以珠江流域鲇鱼（silurus asotus)为实验材料,研究了多巴胺（DA）能药物（DA及其D－2型受体拮抗物 ,DOM）对鲇鱼促性腺激素（GtH)释放的影响,结果表明,在性腺发育的各个时期,单独注射DOM（5ug/g)均不能显著提高鲇鱼血液基础GtH水平,当DOM与LHRH－A联合注射时能显著增强LHRH－A刺激GtH释放的作用;DA只能抑制GnRH诱导的GtH释放,对基础GtH释放无抑制作用,这种生殖内分泌调节方式与鲇形目的革胡子鲇（Clarias gariepinus)和大鳍Hu（Mystus macropterus)相似,而与鲤形目的鲁科（Cyrpindiae)鱼类不同。     

X-ray induction of dominant lethals in late spermatids and mature spermatozoa of Drosophila melanogaster: the role of oxygenation

The role of oxygenation in determining the sensitivity to the induction of dominant lethals was examined in late spermatids and mature spermatozoa of Drosophila melanogaster. 0–2-h-old or 7-day-old Oregon-K males were irradiated with different X-ray exposures in nitrogen, air or in oxygen and the frequencies of dominant lethals induced in these stages were studied. The results obtained confirm and extend Sobels' earlier observations and the interpretation derived therefrom namely, that under normal conditions in air, mature spermatozoa are characterised by a higher degree of oxygenation than late spermatids and this difference is sufficient to explain the differential response of these stages. Similar Oxygen-Enhancement-Ratios(OERs) (of about 2) were obtained for both the cell stages. The present data also revealed that late spermatids are significantly less sensitive than mature spermatozoa to the X-ray-induction of dominant lethals in a nitrogen atmosphere. A plausible mechanism is suggested to explain this observation.