Effect of Paternal (Spermatogonial) X-Ray Exposure in the Mouse: Life Span, X-Ray Tolerance, and Tumor Incidence of the Progeny

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Abstract
CAF1males, at least 9 months old, were irradiated with 250-kvcp X-rays (whole or partial body; 40 rads/minute; 0 to 720 rads). Six or more months later they were mated with unirradiated BALB/c females. The 3000 progeny weaned at 35 days of age were studied with respect to tumor incidence and age at death. X-ray tolerance (500 rads/week) at about 2 years of age was determined in 168 progeny. No significant effect of paternal irradiation was found. An estimate of change in life span of progeny per 100 rads to the father is: male, -7 days; female, + 2 days. Very large scale experiments will be needed to establish such differences. Analysis of variance of life span showed a difference between breedings and between cages. The relatively large effects due to breedings emphasize the need to repeat experiments of this type which estimate marginal differences. Although the cage effect was small, it suggested that the mean life span per cage rather than per animal is the statistically valid unit. A significant difference due to fractionation (2 x 248 versus 496 rads; 3x 240 versus 720 rads) or to integral dose (whole-body versus partial-body exposure) was not observed, now was a singificant change in tumor incidence or in radiation resistance.