Effect of exposure of rat male germ cells in the pre-meiotic phase of spermatogenesis to radiation at doses below a castration level on ontogenesis of two generations of posterity

To study radiation effect on ontogenesis of two generations of a posterity, Wistar rats male germ cells in the pre-meiotic phase of spermatogenesis were irradiated with 60Co at doses below a castration level (0.5; 1.0 or 1.5 Gy; dose rate 0,003 Gy/sec). The rat males with irradiated germ cells were coupled with intact females. The marked radiation effect on the development of a posterity at antenatal and early postnatal periods was observed in the first generation. Radiation associated abnormalities of the development of the second generation were registered as tendency. Conclusion: negative effect of irradiation of rat male germ cells in the pre-meiotic phase is less evident than the effect on spermatozoa and spermatids.