Inheritance of Radiation-Induced Decrement in Ability of Mice to Withstand Protracted Gamma Radiation Stress

Abstract

There is some evidence that irradiated male mice sustain genetic damage which is transmitted to subsequent generations as a decrement in the mean life span (1). From Selye's studies of phenomena (2), it may be postulated that the mean life span of a mouse population is an indication of the relationship between the population's inherited life potential or adaptation energy and the nonspecific intrinsic and extrinsic stress factors encountered during the life span. If, indeed, this broad generalization is blessed with an element of truth and a decrement in mean life span is inherited by the offspring of irradiated parents, it should be possible to demonstrate a similar decrement in the ability of such offspring to resist other stresses of a somewhat general or nonspecific nature. Among those stressors listed by Selye (2) as being somewhat general or nonspecific are trauma, hemorrhage, extremes of temperature, excessive muscular exercise, anoxia, and ionizing radiation. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether unirradiated offspring from ten generations of irradiated male mice showed a decrement in their ability to withstand protracted Co60 y-radiation used to simulate a nonspecific chronic stress.