[Dominant lethality and translocations in the sex cells of male rats under low-intensity gamma irradiation].

Adult male rats were given 1300 rad of chronic gamma-irradiation (0.08 rad/min) Dominant lethal rates were found to be high (ranging from 48 to 75%) in irradiated postmeiotic cells and clearly lower (6.8%) in spermatogonia. The chromosome aberration (reciprocal translocation) yields observed with 1300 rad chronic irradiation were comparatively low, averaging 1.6%. Spermatogonia irradiation at low dose rate resulted in a smaller effect as compared to the genetic effects of a single acute exposure.