Studies of the effect of 0. 4-Gy and 0. 6-Gy prenatal X-irradiation on postnatal adult behavior in the Wistar rat
Thirty-four pregnant Wistar rats were X-irradiated on the 9th or 17th day of gestation at a dosage level 0.4 Gy or 0.6 Gy or were sham-irradiated. All mothers were allowed to deliver their offspring, and litters were limited to a maximum of eight on day 2. On day 30, 224 offspring were weaned and raised until 60 days of age, at which time testing began. Each rat randomly received, in random order, three of the following six behavioral tests: Water T-maze, Conditioned Avoidance Response, Forelimb Hanging, Activity Wheel, Swimming, and Open Field. There were no statistically significant differences between the irradiated and control groups for maternal weight or weight gain or mean litter size, although the litter size of the 17th day 0.6-Gy group was slightly lower. Among offspring irradiated with 0.6 Gy on the 17th day, 3-day-old neonates' weights were significantly reduced. Offspring irradiated on the 17th day with 0.6 Gy exhibited higher Conditioned Avoidance Response 5th-day and retest avoidance scores than did the controls. There were also significant sex differences in responses within the irradiated and control groups for several tests, which were unrelated to radiation exposure. The results of this study indicate that low-level X-irradiation during the fetal period of rat gestation results in neonatal growth retardation and subtle behavioral alterations that may be manifested in adult life. Growth retardation may be the most sensitive indicator of subtle effects that result from low-level prenatal exposure to X-rays.
- Research Organization:
- Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson Univ., Philadelphia, PA
- OSTI ID:
- 6611540
- Journal Information:
- Teratology; (United States), Journal Name: Teratology; (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN TJADA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Effect of low level prenatal X-irradiation on postnatal growth in the Wistar rat
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GROWTH
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAMMALS
NEONATES
PREGNANCY
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
PROGENY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RATS
RODENTS
SEX DEPENDENCE
TERATOGENESIS
VERTEBRATES
X RADIATION