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ACTION OF X RAYS ON EMBRYONIC GONADS OF THE CHICK CULTURED IN VITRO (in French)

Journal Article · · Acta Anatomica (Switzerland)
OSTI ID:4780915
Ovaries and testes of chick embryos explanted in vitro were submitted to 1600- to 12,450-r irradiation, transferred to fresh medium, and cultured for 4 to 10 days longer. The irradiated cultures appeared grossly normal but histologic examination clearly revealed abnormalities. In the most abnormal cultures, sexual differentiation of the gonads was lacking and male and female gonads were indistinguishable. The ovarian cortex disappeared and only the medulla remained in reduced and vacuolated form; many nuclei were pyknotic but some apparently normal cells escaped radiation damage. With weak doses (3000 r) the ovarian Pfluger tubes showed evidence of complete or partial sterility. Testicular structures were correspondingly modified; the seminiferous tubules were disorganized, underdeveloped, sometimes destroyed, and often replaced by undifferentiated tissue composed of vacuoles and normal cells. When these irradiated gonads were transplanted in host embryos, their development proceded as it had in vitro, leading to abnormal structures. Besides degenerative changes, the ovaries showed involution of cortical tissue and leukocytic infiltration of medullary tissue. Testes underwent destruction at high radiation doses and, in general, the male gonad showed higher sensitivity than the female gonad to radiation. (H.H.D.)
Research Organization:
College de France, Nogent
NSA Number:
NSA-16-028760
OSTI ID:
4780915
Journal Information:
Acta Anatomica (Switzerland), Journal Name: Acta Anatomica (Switzerland) Vol. Vol: 48; ISSN ACATA
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
French