The induction by X-rays of chromosome aberrations in male Guinea-pigs, rabbits and golden hamsters. III. Dose-response relationship after single doses of X-rays to spermatogonia.
The induction by X-rays of translocations in spermatogonia was studied by cytological means in spermatocytes derived from them. In the rabbit and guinea-pig hump shaped dose-response curves were obtained, with a linear relationship at the low doses. The shapes of the curves were similar to those reported for the mouse, except that the maximum occurred at 600-700 rad in the mouse as opposed to 300 rad in the guinea-pig and rabbit. Unlike the guinea-pig and rabbit, the golden hamster showed a hump dose-response curve without a definite peak value and with little decrease in yield at high radiation doses. Over the low dose range 100-300 rad, the slopes of the curves of translocation yield were in the order:mouse (highest), rabbit, guinea-pig and hamster. Data on sterile periods suggested that the amount of spermatogonial killing in the rabbit and guinea-pig was as great or greater than in the mouse, and that in the golden hamster it was most severe. It is suggested that the differing shapes of the dose-response curves can be explained by a lower sensitivity to translocation induction in the test species and, also especially in the golden hamster, a greater sensitivity to cell killing. The possibility of extrapolating from these data to other species is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D006224:Cricetinae; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D008938:Mitosis; D011817:Rabbits; D011831:Radiation Genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014965:X-Rays