CAN X-IRRADIATION PRIOR TO SEXUAL MATURITY AFFECT THE FERTILITY OF THE MALE MAMMAL (MOUSE)?

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1964 · Atompraxis (West Germany) Incorporated in Kerntechnik

OSTI ID:4122157

Rugh, R; Wohlfromm, M

CF/sub 1/ pregnant mice were x irradiated to 25 or 100r at gestation ages 0.5 to 18.5. Post-natal males were irradiated at birth, 1, 2, 3 weeks, 1 and 2 months to either 100 or 400 r. Pre- and post-natal x irradiated males were tested for reproductive potential from 2 months of age either to 8 months (for pre-natal series) or to 12 months of age (post-natal series). Pre-natal male mice exposed to 100 r on days 10.5 to 12.5 showed a slight but significant reduction in their reproductive quotient but this was due more to fewer impregnations than to a reduction in litter size, when mated with normal females. This may reflect general physiological disability rather than reduced reproductive potential. The average litter size was not affected. X irradiation of the neo-natal male mouse had no signicant effect on fertility when the level of exposure was 100 r. All post-natal males showed some effect at 400 r x irrdiation. Exposure of the male mouse at 1 or 2 months of age to 400 r x rays reduced their reproductive quotient considerably. (67% and 71%, respectively). The pre-gonad embryonic stages (0 to 11.5 days) and the stages of active gonad differentiation (12 days gestation to 1 month postnatal) were found to be very radioresistant when the mouse was subsequently fertility-tested. While 400 r did have an immediate effect on the neo-natal testes, this dose was not sufficient to permanently sterilize any male mouse when exposures occurred at any time during the post-natal period of testis differentiation. Further, the neo-natal testes damaged by 400 r x rays (as seen at 2 months of age) showed almost complete recovery by the termination of the study. The recovery of the x-irradiated testis was made from the few early maturation (spermatogonial) stages that escaped x irradiation insult. These became the stem cells for the ultimately recovered testis at 12 months of age. It was concluded that the unformed, undifferentiated testis, and the actively maturing testis are both sufficiently radioresistant as to make full recovery if a few spermatogonia escape x- irradiation death, and that 100 r to the male embryo or 400 r to the sexually maturing male are not sufficient exposures to seriously affect reproductive activity over the normal reproductive period. No consideration is given to any possible genetic sequelae in the offspring produced by the sexually recovered males. (auth)

• Research Organization: Columbia Univ., New York
• NSA Number: NSA-18-011665
• OSTI ID: 4122157
• Journal Information: Atompraxis (West Germany) Incorporated in Kerntechnik, Journal Name: Atompraxis (West Germany) Incorporated in Kerntechnik Vol. Vol: 10; ISSN ATPXA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AGE
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
EMBRYOS
GENETICS
GONADS
MICE
PHYSIOLOGY
PREGNANCY
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RECOVERY
REPRODUCTION
STERILIZATION
X RADIATION