Radiation induced ovarian pathogenesis in the progeny of x-irradiated female mice

Female C57 mice were exposed to 300R X-rays and mated with unexposed litter-mate brothers. The young born were maintained through several generations by breeding. Pituitaries of these descendants were found to have decreased gonadotrophic potency. Weanlings of these mice from the 16th generation onwards were subjected to 400R gamma-rays from a 60Co source. Several pathological changes including pre-neoplastic growths were observed in the ovaries of these animals 2.5 and 3.5 months following the treatment. The latency of these ovarian changes has been significantly reduced in the irradiated progeny as compared to the control weanlings similarly treated. The results are discussed to elucidate hormonal and genetic mechanisms involved in radiation induced neoplasia. (author)