Dominant lethals following acute spermatogonial X-irradiation in the rat.

Spermatogonial X-irradiation with 0, 400 or 600 R in adult rats and 200 R in fetal rats was carried out to assess genetic damage by the test of induced dominant lethality. From postimplantation embryonic losses observed, dominant lethal rates were established to be significantly raised by a dose of 400 or 600 R. With 200 R given either to adult or to fetal rats, no excess was detected in embryonic death rates.