Impaired cell proliferation in mice that persists across at least two generations after paternal irradiation

Radiat Res. 1997 Aug;148(2):145-51.

Abstract

Irradiation of male F0 mice 6 to 7 weeks prior to mating causes significant changes in the proliferation of F1 and F2 embryonic cells. These changes are revealed as a competitive cell proliferation disadvantage in chimera assays when the affected embryo is paired with a normal embryo in an aggregation chimera. This effect has been observed previously to be transmitted to F1 embryos for absorbed doses from 0.01 to 1.0 Gy; 0.01 Gy is about 100-fold lower than detectable using conventional germline mutation assays. However, until now there has been no reported cross-generation heritability. We now report that this competitive cell proliferation disadvantage persists without degradation in the F2 generation of embryos when F0 males received 1.0 Gy from gamma irradiation 6 and 7 weeks prior to conception of F1 males.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight / radiation effects
  • Cell Division / radiation effects
  • Chimera
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
  • Embryo, Mammalian / radiation effects*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Paternal Exposure*