Influence of gestational age at exposure on the prenatal effects of gamma-radiation

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of gestational age at exposure on the prenatal effects of gamma-radiation. Pregnant ICR mice were exposed to a single dose of 2.0 Gy gamma-radiation at a gestational 2.5 to 15.5 days post-coitus (p.c.). The animals were sacrificed on day 18 of gestation and the fetuses were examined for mortality, growth retardation, change in head size and any other morphological abnormalities. The only demonstrable effect of irradiation during the preimplantation period was an increase in prenatal mortality. Resorptions were maximal on post-exposure day 2.5 after conception. The pre-implantation irradiated embryos which survived did not show any major fetal abnormalities. Small head, growth retardation, cleft palate, dilatation of the cerebral ventricle, dilatation of the renal pelvis and abnormalities of the extremities and tail were prominent after exposure during the organogenesis period, especially on day 11.5 of gestation. Our results indicate that the late period of organogenesis in the mouse is a particularly sensitive phase in terms of the development of the brain, skull and extremities.