The effects of gamma irradiation (Co⁶⁰) on the developing testes at specific intervals during prenatal and postnatal development in two strains of albino rats

A study was conducted to obtain data on effects of chronic low level radiation on the developing testes at specific intervals during pre- and postnatal development in two strains of albino rats. The investigation was divided into four phases: Phase 1 consisted of seven groups of Wistar rats receiving 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40r per day respectively administered from day 15 to prenatal to day 3 of postnatal life. Phase 2 was exactly like Phase 1 in all particulars except that the test animals were albino rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain. Phase 3 consisted of seven groups of Wistar rats subjected to the same dosages as test animals in Phases 1 and 2, but in Phase 3 animals were irradiated from day 3 to day 13 of postnatal life. Phase 4 consisted of five groups of Wistar rats receiving 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40r per day respectively administered from day 3 to day 23 of postnatal life. All test animals were weighed at birth, weaning, 65 days, and 170 days. Testes cross sections form rats in all groups of the four phases were examined to determine total number of tubules, number of active tubules, number of inactive tubules, average diameter of active and inactive tubules as measured in microns, and number of germinal cells per 1/4 of testes cross section. Accessory reproductive organs were also examined for evidence of damage. ..