IRRADIATION DAMAGE TO ANIMALS AND ITS EFFECT ON THEIR REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITY

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1960 · Journal of Dairy Science (U.S.)

OSTI ID:4132761

Oakberg, E F

Adult male animals given an acute dose of radiation of several hundred roentgens are initially fertile owing to utilization of gametes irradiated as spermatozoa, spermatids, and possibly spermatocytes; become temporarily sterile owing to oligospermia resulting from killing of spermatogonia, and regain fertility as the seminiferous epithelium is regenerated from surviving spermatogonia. Details of the response of different cell stages in the seminiferous epithelium are outlined for the mouse; there is a good indication that this general pattern of response is typical for males of those species in which all stages of spermatogenesis occur in the adult. The differences between males and females in post-irradiation fertility can be traced to differences in normal gametogenesis (i.e., to the determination of the definitive number of oocytes before birth of the female mammal). In the mouse and rat, oocytes in the earliest follicle stages are sensitive to radiation, whereas those in mature follicles are quite resistant. Thus, after 50 r female mice have about four litters, then are permanently sterile; at least one litter is obtained after 400 r. It is, therefore, imperative in studies of irradiated females that total reproductive performance be measured. Extension of these results to other species is hampered by the lack of information of the dynamics of oogenesis in mammals. It is likely, however, that the response of oocytes in the same meiotic prophase stage, and in follicles of comparable stage of development, will be similar in all mammals. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-002464
• OSTI ID: 4132761
• Journal Information: Journal of Dairy Science (U.S.), Journal Name: Journal of Dairy Science (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 43, Suppl.; ISSN JDSCA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMALS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CHROMOSOMES
GONADS
MICE
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RATS
REGENERATION
REPRODUCTION
STERILIZATION
TISSUES