[Unexpected effects of a whole body irradiation on the mortality rate of baby mice after an experimental infection with the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)].

The effect of total body irradiation of baby mice or their pregnant mothers with surface doses of 3.9 Gy on the mortality rate after infection of the baby mice with VSV has been studied. Irradiation of the newborns had no influence on the mortality rate of the infected animals. Irradiation of the pregnant animals--and the foetuses in utero--caused an astonishing decrease of the mortality rate of the infected baby mice for about 50% in compare to the non irradiated controls.