A study of further generations of mammals from ancestors treated with alcohol

Abstract

Experiments now in progress for almost four years have demonstrated the fact that the germ cells of male guinea-pigs can be so injured by allowing the animals to inhale the fumes of alcohol that they give rise to defective offspring although mated with vigorous untreated females. 1

In the present communication I wish to emphasize the fact that the effect of this injury of the germ cells is not only shown by the immediate offspring of alcoholized animals but is conveyed through their descendants for at least three generations.

The offspring from the treated guinea-pigs which reach maturity are usually nervous and slightly under sized. These animals F₁, or the second generation, are never themselves subjected to the fume treatment. Mated even with normal animals the results are poor when compared with the outcome of normal control matings. Twenty-six matings of second generation with normal animals gave in 4 cases negative results or early abortions, 2 stillborn litters of 4 individuals and 20 living litters containing 31 young, 19 of which died and only 12 survived. Twenty-two matings of second generation by alcoholized animals gave 5 negative results or early abortions, 3 stillborn litters of 7 young and only 14 living litters consisting of 25 young, 11 of which died and 14 survived.

If second generation animals, non-relatives in most cases, are mated with one another the sum total of the result is worse than when they are mated in either of the above combinations. Fortyseven such matings gave in 14 cases negative results or early abortions, 3 stillborn litters containing 8 young, and only 30, less than 64 per cent., living litters consisting of 46 young; 14, or about 33 per cent., died soon after birth and 32 survived.