Combined effects of radiation and ultrasound on embryonic development in mice

The combined effect of radiation and ultrasound has been studied in mouse embryos. Radiation and/or ultrasound were administered to ICR mice on day 8 of gestation. Intrauterine death, gross malformation, and fetal body weight were selected as indicators of effects. Does of whole - body γ - irradiation were 0.5 to 2.5 Gy and those of ultrasound were 0.5 W / cm2 to 3 W / cm2. Intrauterine mortality increased with increasing radiation dose ; this trend was more remarkable in combination with ultrasound. Gross malformations such as exencephaly and anophthalmia/microphthalmia appeared frequently in the fetuses treated with both radiation and ultrasound. Decreased fetal weight was observed even in mice treated with 1.5 Gy of radiation or 1 W / cm2 of ultrasound. There was a linear relationship between dose and reduction of fetal weight. The fetal weight was sensitive, precise and easy - to - handle indicator for the effects of growth retardation. Intrauterine mortality and frequencies of exencephaly and anophthalmia/microphthalmia were higher than the sum of those induced by radiation and by ultrasound. The results indicated that the combined action of radiation and ultrasound on intrauterine death and malformations was synergistic