BODY WEIGHT KINETICS OF F1 GENERATION IRRADIATED In-utero

To investigate radiation risks associated with a low dose and low dose rates, pregnant Swiss albino mice were exposed to 0.20 Gy, 0.40Gy and 0.80 Gy of gamma rays from a Cobalt-60 source at two different dose rates (0.0584 Gy/min and 0.00091 Gy/min) on 18-day post conception. Irradiated as well as control animals were allowed to reach term and to deliver normally. Post irradiation variations in the body weight of mice were studied in the F1 generation at 0 days and 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 12 weeks of postpartum age. Bodyweight at both and at different postnatal ages was found to be influenced by the exposure dose as well as by the dose rate. The higher the dose, the greater is the weight loss. Moreover, at different postnatal age’s body weight was less in the High dose rate (HDR) subgroup than in the Low dose rate (LDR) subgroup. This holds true for all the exposed dose groups. In all the dose groups ratio of LDR to HDR, values for the bodyweight revealed the following relation: 0.20 Gy < 0.40Gy < 0.80 Gy.