Some Effects of Lifetime Parental Exposure to Low Levels of Tritium on the F2 Generation

Rats were continuously exposed to constant activities of tritium (HTO) in drinking water from conception of the F1 generation through delivery of the F2. The activities employed were 0.01, 0.10, 1.0, and 10.0 μCi HTO/ml of body water which are 2-2000 times the ${\rm MPC}_{{\rm w}}$ for an individual...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Radiation research 1973-10, Vol.56 (1), p.171-179
Main Authors: Laskey, John W., Parrish, Jeanie L., Cahill, Daniel F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Body water
Body weight
Body Weight - radiation effects
Brain - metabolism
Brain - radiation effects
Female
Irradiation
Litter size
Male
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Potable water
Pregnancy
Radiation Dosage
Radiation Effects
Radiation Injuries, Experimental
Rats
Reproduction - radiation effects
Testes
Testis - metabolism
Testis - radiation effects
Tritium
Tritium - metabolism
Urine
Water
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Summary:Rats were continuously exposed to constant activities of tritium (HTO) in drinking water from conception of the F1 generation through delivery of the F2. The activities employed were 0.01, 0.10, 1.0, and 10.0 μCi HTO/ml of body water which are 2-2000 times the ${\rm MPC}_{{\rm w}}$ for an individual in the general population. These activities provided whole body dose rates of approximately 3-3000 mrads/day. Continuous exposure at 10 μCi/ml produced a 30% reduction in the weight of F1 adult male testes but no impairment of growth or reproductive ability. Statistically significant effects on the F2 neonates were: reductions in relative brain weight at 0.1-10.0 μCi/ml; decreased body weight at 1.0 and 10.0 μCi/ml; decreased litter size and increased resorption at 10.0 μCi/ml. Analyses of the metabolically incorporated tritium activities of F1 adult male and F2 neonatal tissues were performed. The results indicate that maximum tritium levels in tissue from HTO are reached during in utero exposure. Brain and testes contained approximately 100% and 50% greater tritium activities, respectively, than the average in other tissues. Comparisons were made with a similar study which employed only intrauterine HTO exposures. These indicate that lifetime parental exposure to low levels of radiation produces effects on the F2 at levels 10-100 times below those required for effect after in utero exposure alone.
ISSN:0033-7587
1938-5404
DOI:10.2307/3573801