Progesterone and estradiol plasma levels in neonatally irradiated cycling rats

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Endocrine Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/07435809009033001· OSTI ID:7062127

Freud, A; Sod-Moriah, U A ^[1]

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1. Nuclear Research Center-Negev, Beer-Sheva (Israel)

Female rats which were exposed to a single low dose of gamma irradiation (6R or 15R) at the age of 8 days produce smaller litters when mature than untreated controls. The possibility that the impaired fertility resulted from altered ovarian activity as reflected by changes in plasma levels of progesterone or estardiol was investigated. Plasma levels of both steroids were determined throughout the day of proestrus. Progesterone level was also determined in 6R animals on the day of weaning. The maturity of such irradiated rats was assessed by observing the time of vaginal opening. The results indicated that the preovulatory peak of progesterone was delayed in the 6R rats whereas in the 15R group its levels were significantly lower. On the other hand no differences in estradiol plasma levels were noticed between the groups. The higher level of progesterone in the 6R animals was not evident on the day of weaning and was even in both groups, but vaginal opening in the irradiated rats was significantly delayed. The elevated level of progesterone might be responsible, among other endocrine changes, for the lower fertility of neonatally irradiated mature female rats.

• OSTI ID: 7062127
• Journal Information: Endocrine Research; (USA), Vol. 16:2; ISSN 0743-5800
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ESTRADIOL
BIOSYNTHESIS
GAMMA RADIATION
TERATOGENESIS
PROGESTERONE
ACUTE IRRADIATION
ESTROUS CYCLE
FEMALES
FERTILITY
LOW DOSE IRRADIATION
NEONATES
OVARIES
RATS
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION
ACUTE EXPOSURE
ANIMALS
BODY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ESTRANES
ESTROGENS
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
FEMALE GENITALS
GONADS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
KETONES
MAMMALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PREGNANES
RADIATIONS
RODENTS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals