Relative Radiosensitivities of the Maternal Reproductive Tract and the Fertilized Ovum

Abstract

THE loss of pregnancy which occurs when an animal is subjected to large doses of irradiation has generally been ascribed to the radiosensitivity of the ova. However, an indication that the reproductive tract of the mother may be injured has been provided by Chang and Hunt¹, who showed that pseudopregnant rabbits subjected to 400 r. had an increased incidence of embryonic mortality when ova which had not been irradiated were transferred to them. Further, Glasser² has presented evidence that placental dysfunction is a major cause of pregnancy wastage in irradiated rats. The present experiments were designed to determine whether or not the lethal effects on ova resulting from irradiation of a pregnant animal might occur as a result of harm to the maternal reproductive tract.