Irradiation of male rats increases the chromosomal sensitivity of progeny to genotoxic agents

Abstract

Chromosomal sensitivity to genotoxic agents was studied in the first generation progeny of male rats irradiated at a dose of 4.5 Gy X-rays and in the progeny of non-exposed animals. The frequency of anaphase chromosome aberrations (bridges or/and fragments) in rats exposed to X-rays or treated with cyclophosphamide was estimated: in proliferating hepatocytes (2 Gy) as a function of time during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy; in bone marrow cells (2.5 Gy or 25 mg/kg body wt); in fetal fibroblasts (3 Gy). The sensitivity of chromosomes to genotoxic agents was found to be increased in the progeny of irradiated male rats as compared with the progeny of non-exposed animals. This finding provides supportive evidence that irradiation of parents is an important factor in predisposition of progeny to chromosomal instability.