Effect on Suckling Young of X-Irradiation of Lactating Mother. ∗

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions

1. Increasing x-irradiation of nursing female mouse caused increasing retardation of growth of suckling young. There is some effect even after 50 r exposure of the mother on the 3rd day post-parturition. There was pronounced effect at 200 r or greater. 2. There is no evidence of any toxic substance passing through the milk to the young. The effect seems to be one of simple starvation, probably through general debilitation of x-irradiated mother. 3. Newborn mice starved by an x-irradiated mother will recover rapidly if given to a normal lactating mother at 15 days postparturition, and by 30 days will be essentially like controls with respect to body weight. Recovery from initial starvation appears to be complete.