Comparative effects of neutron irradiation and X irradiation on the embryonic development of the rat

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Radiation Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3578815· OSTI ID:6479780

Solomon, H M ^[1]; Beckman, D A; Buck, S J; Brent, R L ^[2]; Gorson, R O ^[3]; Mills, R E ^[4]

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1. SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, King of Prussia, PA (United States)
2. Alfred I. duPont Institute, Wilmington, DE (United States) Thomas Jefferson Univ., Philadelphia, PA (United States)
3. Thomas Jefferson Univ., Philadelphia, PA (United States)
4. Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)

Our aim was to compare the dose-response relationship for the embryotoxic effects of 0.43 MeV neutrons with those of 240 kVp X rays after in utero exposures during early organogenesis in the rat. At 9.5 days after conception, pregnant rats were exposed to 0.025 to 0.35 Gy 0.43 MeV neutrons at a dose rate of 0.04 to 0.07 Gy/h. Comparable biological effects were produced using 0.50 to 2.05 Gy 240 kVp X rays. Neutron irradiation produced a greater proportion of offspring with very low body weight than with malformations when compared to X rays. There were no embryotoxic effects observed at neutron exposures of 0.025, 0.049, 0.079, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 Gy or X-ray exposures of 0.50 and 0.96 Gy. Taken together, the results suggest that the mechanisms by which neutron irradiation affects embryonic development may, in part, be both quantitatively and qualitatively different from those by which X irradiation affects development. These results support the generalization that the embryo exhibits a nonlinear response to increasing doses of ionizing radiations during the period of early organogenesis. 25 refs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6479780
• Journal Information: Radiation Research; (United States), Journal Name: Radiation Research; (United States) Vol. 137:2; ISSN 0033-7587; ISSN RAREAE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550800 -- Morphology
560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BARYONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EVALUATION
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
MAMMALS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
ONTOGENESIS
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
PRENATAL IRRADIATION
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RATS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
X RADIATION