A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF LIFETIME SICKNESS AND MORTALITY AND PROGENY EFFECTS RESULTING FROM EXPOSURE TO PENETRATING IRRADIATION. Summary of Progress and Contemplated Work Program, 1960-1961

Technical Report · Mon Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1960

OSTI ID:4132032

Gowen, J W; Stadler, J

The effects of in utero x irradiation upon prenatal and postnatal development was investigated in mice. Morphological anomalies, neonatal mortality, and birth weight were studied as functions of dose rates of 20, 80, 160, and 320 r. The differential response observed in both the induction of malformations and in the incidence of neonatal deaths between inbred and hybrid genotypes is discussed. The nature of the effect of 320 r x irradiation on volitional activity and its relationship to genetic backgrounds were examined in mice. A reduction in activity of whole-bodyirradiated mice was observed. The initial reduction appeared to be tissue-specific and it is considered that damage to the intestinal epithelium assumes a major factor at the dose used. The amount of tissue exposed was a primary factor in determining the duration of the initial reduction. Differences in activity levels between S and Ba inbred mice, reciprocal Fi males and females, and backcross male progenies implicated the sex chromosomes as a partial determinant of activity level, in addition to other factors which include total chromosome origin and degree of heterozygosity. The effects of whole-body irradiation on learning and learning retention of K mice produced a reduction of learning ability; in Z mice no reduction of learning ability was noted. Partial-body irradiation produced a decrement in the maze (modified-T-water) performance of irradiated K mice but to a lesser degree in Z mice. The effects of x rays (320 and 2560 r) on mitotically active spermatogonial cells in mice were investigated. Irradiation produced a marked reduction in mitotic activity of Ba mice, the maximum being reached at 72 hr. The highest level observed was about 33 to 20% of that observed in unirradiated, partially hepatectomized mice. Comparable data which showed lower rates of mitoses were observed for S mice. Hybrid vigor, by increasing F/sub 1/ fertility threefold, increased the viabilities of eggs to x irradiation by onethird and reduced the apparent sterility of irradiated pairs of mice that were mated for life. Radiation effects on the delimitation of coat-pigment areas in mosaic mice were investigated. An experiment in which sterility was induced through irradiation mutation of a fertility gene is described. Studies on disease susceptibility induced by irradiations to different parts of the body and to the disease, that induced by Salmonella typhimurium in mice, are contained. Genotypic effects on life span of mice treated with x rays were studied. The role assumed by autosome IV in Drosophila melanogaster sex balance was investigated. (C.J.G.)

• Research Organization: Iowa State Univ. of Science and Technology, Ames
• NSA Number: NSA-14-025240
• OSTI ID: 4132032
• Report Number(s): TID-6582
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMAL CELLS-- BEHAVIOR-- CHROMOSOMES-- FETUSES-- FREQUENCY-- GENETICS-- GONADS-- INFECTIONS-- INTESTINE-- MALFORMATIONS-- MICE-- MITOSIS-- PIGMENTS-- RADIATION DOSES-- RADIATION EFFECTS-- RADIATION INJURIES-- SENSITIVITY-- SEX-- SKIN-- TISSUES-- X RADIATION
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CHROMOSOMES-- DROSOPHILA-- GENETICS-- INSECTS-- SEX