Radiolethal and genetic vulnerabilities of germ cells in the female mammal: Effects of tritium and other radiations compared
Our focus is on the nature of the lethality target in very sensitive cells. In the mouse, several types of radiations have now been used, including /sup 3/H-Tdr incorporated into oocyte DNA, gamma rays delivered at various dose rates, 250 kVp x rays, neutrons of various energies, and three kinds of accelerated heavy ions (Si/sup 14 +/, Ar/sup 18 +/, Fe/sup 26 +/). We have shown that the lethality target in mouse immature oocytes is non-nuclear; it is equal in cross-sectional area to the entire oocyte and is separated from the nucleus by about 4 ..mu..m. A substantial body of data now points to the plasma membrane as the lethality target in these particular cells. We have quantified both chromosome aberrations and dominant lethal mutations in oocytes from females exposed 8 to 12 weeks earlier. Results from these and other studies show that: (1) for immature oocyte killing in mice, chronically administered /sup 3/HOH is of near maximum biological effectiveness, similar to the most effective neutrons and heavy ions (likely true also for female germ-cell killing in some prenatal primates), (2) tritium incorporated into DNA as /sup 3/H-Tdr is about 100 times less effective in mouse immature oocyte killing than is tritium administered as /sup 3/HOH, and (3) for mutagenicity in the mouse, immature oocytes appear to have approximately the same sensitivity as mature oocytes and show dose and LET responses similar to those obtained from genetic studies of other cells. The possible implications of these findings for women exposed to tritium are considered.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6350744
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-99895; CONF-881190-3; ON: DE89006778; TRN: 89-006467
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 3. Japan-US workshop on tritium radiobiology and health physics, Kyoto, Japan, 8 Nov 1988; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GERM CELLS
RADIOSENSITIVITY
OOCYTES
LETHAL RADIATION DOSE
TRITIUM
GENETIC EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CELL MEMBRANES
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FEMALES
HEAVY IONS
IN VIVO
LETHAL MUTATIONS
MAMMALS
MICE
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
SEX DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DOSES
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
IONS
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
LETHAL DOSES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MEMBRANES
MUTATIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals