The Effect of Cysteamine on the Survival of Foetal Germ Cells after Irradiation

Summary

The abdomen of pregnant female rats was x-irradiated between the 17th and 21st day of gestation with doses ranging between 50 and 150 r. The male offspring were killed 25 days after birth and their testes examined histologically.

The results indicate that the extent of testicular damage (proportion of seminiferous tubules classified as normal, ‘regenerating’ and sterile) depends both on the dose of irradiation and the foetal age at the time of exposure.

Pre-treatment of the pregnant rats with cysteamine shortly before irradiation partially inhibits the deleterious effect of irradiation on the testes of the offspring.