Steroid hormone production in testis, ovary, and adrenal gland of immature rats irradiated in utero with /sup 60/Co
Pregnant rats received whole-body irradiation at 20 days of gestation with 2.6 Gy lambda rays from a 60Co source. Endocrinological effects before maturation were studied using testes and adrenal glands obtained from male offspring and ovaries from female offspring irradiated in utero. Seminiferous tubules of the irradiated male offspring were remarkably atrophied with free germinal epithelium and containing only Sertoli cells. Female offspring also had atrophied ovaries. Testicular tissue obtained from intact and 60Co-irradiated rats was incubated with 14C-labeled pregnenolone, progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, and androstenedione as a substrate. Intermediates for androgen production and catabolic metabolites were isolated after the incubation. The amounts of these metabolites produced by the irradiated testes were low in comparison with the control. The activities of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17 alpha-hydroxylase, C17,20-lyase, and delta 4-5 alpha-reductase in the irradiated testes were 30-40% of those in nonirradiated testes. Also, the activities of 17 beta- and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases were 72 and 52% of the control, respectively. In adrenal glands, the 21-hydroxylase activity of the irradiated animals was 38% of the control, but the delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was comparable to that of the control. On the other hand, the activity of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of the irradiated ovary was only 19% of the control. These results suggest that 60Co irradiation of the fetus in utero markedly affects the production of steroid hormones in testes, ovaries, and adrenal glands after birth.
- Research Organization:
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba-shi (Japan)
- OSTI ID:
- 6072429
- Journal Information:
- Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 117:2; ISSN RAREA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADRENAL GLANDS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BODY
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FEMALE GENITALS
GLANDS
GONADS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LYASES
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OVARIES
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PREGNANCY
PROGENY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RODENTS
STEROIDS
SYNTHESIS
TERATOGENESIS
TESTES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES