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

Abstract

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 gonadmore » 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)« less

Authors:

Rugh, R; Wohlfromm, M

Publication Date:

Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1964

Research Org.:

Columbia Univ., New York

OSTI Identifier:

4122157

NSA Number:

NSA-18-011665

Resource Type:

Journal Article

Journal Name:

Atompraxis (West Germany) Incorporated in Kerntechnik

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: Vol: 10; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64

Country of Publication:

Country unknown/Code not available

Language:

English

Subject:

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