Conditioning activities of the second generation of male rats exposed to acute gamma-radiation of 1.0 Gy. Part 2

Available experimental data do not allow us to state unambiguously about transmission of radiation-induced impairments of higher nervous activity from irradiated parents to their offspring. The purpose of the study is to elucidate an effect of whole-body gamma-irradiation of Wistar male rats at dose of 1.0 Gy on psycho-physiological development of the next generations. The following methods of crossing were used: 1) females of the first generation were mated with nonirradiated males, their offspring were the second generation, F2, on the maternal line; 2) males of the first generation were mated with nonirradiated females, their offspring were the second generation, F2, on the paternal line; 3) females of the first generation were mated with males of the first generation, the offspring were the second generation, F2, their grandfathers both on maternal and paternal lines were exposed to radiation. Cognitive function in F2 offspring was tested using shuttle-box avoidance method. The authors found that heritable impairments transmitted from the F1 generation occurred more often in the F2 generation of the paternal line than on the maternal line. If both parents of the first generation were offspring of irradiated males, in this case the impairments transmitted from F1 to F2 generation were amplified.