Effect of low-level tritium exposure on the ovary of mice in vitro

Ovaries of immature mice (one, two and three weeks old) were maintained in culture containing tritiated water at the dose of 5 μCi/ml of medium. After 72 hours, ovaries in culture showed considerable degeneration. All primordial oocytes were affected in the irradiated groups. The granulosa layers show a marked decrease in their cell number in all culture samples. Low level exposure to beta radiation from tritium is capable of inflicting considerable damage to the ovarian cell system of Swiss albino mice in vitro. (author)