The Indirect Effect of Irradiation on Embryonic Development

Abstract

Introduction There is little doubt that the malforming effect of x-irradiation of the pregnant mammal is due to the irradiation of the embryonic site. Previous experiments have demonstrated both the importance of embryonic irradiation minus maternal irradiation and the insignificance of maternal irradiation minus embryonic irradiation.^1-4There is no need to review the other aspects of radiation embryology since this has been recently done by Rugh,⁵Russell,^6,7O'Brien,⁸and Hicks.⁹ Other investigators have been interested in the effect of abnormal maternal states on embryonic development. A review of the literature has failed to reveal any specific effects of placental alteration in line with the present investigation. In this particular study, an attempt was made to determine the importance of the placenta in the effect of irradiation on the embryonic site. Materials and Methods Pregnant rats of a known gestational stage were obtained by mating Wistar