Strain Variation in Reproductive Capacity and Radiation Response of Female Mice

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Abstract
From 14 to 18 female mice of each of the strains SEC (dse/dse), A, SEA, NB, and DBA were x-irradiated with 50 r. One day after exposure, each female was caged separately with a non-irradiated C3H male. Equal numbers of nonirradiated females were mated in the same way. The total reproductive performances were determined. The number of offspring/female after exposure with 50 r, expressed as percentage of comparable control group, was as follows for the various strains: SEC (15%), A (18%), SEA (19%), NB (32%), and DBA (56%). For the most radiosensitive strain (SEC), the total numbers of offspring per female (mean and standard error) in the control and 50 r groups were 73.4 x 0.4 and 11.0 [plus or minus] 0.9, respectively; for the most radioresistant strain (DBA), the corresponding values were 40.4 [plus or minus].3.7 and 22.5 [plus or minus] 1.6, respectively. In addition, the fertile period of irradiated DBA females was 3 times as long as that of irradiated SEC females. Expressed as a ratio relative to DBA, the postirradiation production of litters per female by the various strains was as follows: DBA (1.00), NB (0.45), SEA (0.34), A (0.31), and SEC (0.25). Comparisons of radiation response between species must take the 3 to 4-fold difference between strains within species into consideration.

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