Lethal and teratogenic effects after exposure to X-rays at various times of early murine gestation.
Various well-defined stages during completion of the second meiotic division and early organogenesis of mouse embryos were X-irradiated with doses of 1-4 Gy (100-400 rad). The major risk was prenatal mortality with radiation sensitivity changing markedly with dependence on the developmental stage irradiated; in the case of day 1 even within hours. The surviving fetuses did show a significantly enhanced frequency of malformations on day 19 of gestation (mostly gastroschisis and some exencephalies). This was true for all stages between days 1 and 8; only sensitivity again changed considerably. The radiation doses used in this study are markedly higher than doses that can be expected from radiation diagnostics, but exposure is in a range comparable to doses that can occur in radiation therapy (e.g., Morbus Hodgkin).
Müller
W U
WU
Institut für Medizinische Strahlenbiologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Germany.
Streffer
C
C
D000016:Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology*; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000209:etiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011836:Radiation Tolerance