Effect Of Fetal X-Irradiation Upon The Subsequent Fertility Of The Offspring
Fetal female mice ranging from days 15.5 to 18.5 can tolerate more x irradiation than can adult females without incurring appreciable effects on fertility. On fetal day 16.5, comparable in embryonic development of the human gonads to about 85 days, the fetal ovary is the most radiosensitive. While it requires an exposure of about 200 r to show any appreciable reduction in fertility, 50 r does have some effect. After 16.5 days the fetal ovary appears to be quite radioresistant. Fetal male mice exhibit a drastic reduction in subsequent fertility when exposed to 200 r x rays on days 15.5 or 16.5, corresponding to days 65 to 85 for the human. This is in direct contrast to the adult testis which is comparatively very radioresistant. There is no evidence in either the male or the female of temporary sterility or in delayed maturation resulting from fetal x irradiation between days 15.5 and 18.5. Whatever effect on the gonads is inflicted remains steady throughout the 9 months period of observation. Litter size average showed a slight reduction from males x-rayed in utero at 15.5 to 17.5 days by 200 r x rays, while the females showed slight reduction when x-rayed only at 16.5 and 17.5 days. There was in no instance any suggestion of stimulation of germinal epithelium by x irradiation, resulting in greater fertility than the controls. The final litter from any mating of irradiated mice was within the normal ranges i.e., there was no tapering off of fertility in terms of litter size. The reaction of the fetal gonad to x irradiation bears no relation to the radiosensitivity of the adult gonad. The fetal testis is more radiosensitive than is the adult testis, and the fetal ovary is more radioresistant than is the adult ovary, as measured by subsequent fertility. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Columbia Univ., New York
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-015014
- OSTI ID:
- 4241854
- Journal Information:
- J. Exptl. Zool., Vol. Vol: 138; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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