Tritium toxicity in mouse testis: Effect of continuous exposure during pre- and postnatal development

Pregnant mice were continuously irradiated (5μCi/ml of drinking HTO; 0,9 rd/day) from the 16th day post coitum. Quantitative and qualitative studies were made on testis of mice 3, 4 and 5 weeks post partum. Testes showed various histopathological lesions like cytoplasmic vacuolation, exfoliation, giant cell formation, denudation, haemorrhage, hyperaemia and sclerosis. Three weeks old mouse testis was found histopathologically more damaged. The population of spermatogonia types A, intermediate and B were maintained at approximately 80%, 70% and 60% of the controls respectively; while that of spermatocytes was maintained at roughly 70%. The population of spermatids at 4 and 5 weeks was approximately 45%. (orig.)