EFFECT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE IRRADIATION ON PREGNANCY AND OFFSPRING / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Female Kunming mice (6-8 weeks old) were exposed to total body irradiation by of 6?10 4V/m EMP(electromagnetic pulse, EMP) for five times in 6-8th day of gestation(post pregnant irradiation), or became pregnant within 14 days (early conception after irradiation), or 14-28 days (late conception after irradiation) after irradiation. Pregnant mice were killed at 18th day. Teratological markers were analysed to evaluate the effect of EMP irradiation on pregnancy and offspring. The results showed that EMP irradiation caused no significant changes in maternal body weight gains, most of organ weight and organ/body weight ratio. But it caused significant shortening of tail length of live foetus. The offspring sex ratio was decreased after post pregnant irradiation and early conception after irradiation. Body weight was decreased in the early and late conception after irradiation. EMP irradiation also resulted in a significant increase in fetal death rate and embryo absorption rate compared with control group, especially in the late conception group, which was increased 5 2 and 3 8 times respectively. The results suggested that EMP irradiation exerted certain effects on pregnancy and offspring development in both pre pregnant and post pregnant female mice.