EFFECTS OF X-IRRADIATION ON MAMMALIAN OOCYTES IN ORGAN CULTURE

A technique for maintaining mammalian ovaries in organ culture is described. Ovaries of rats, mice, monkeys and humans have been maintained in a histologically normal condition for up to 20 days in culture, during which many were X-irradiated. The doses of X-rays required to destroy all the primordial oocytes in organ cultures are similar to those reported for in vivo studies. The human foetal ovary is resistant to X-irradiation. Some oocytes survive for 7 days following exposure to 4000 R in organ culture. The radiation sensitivity of the human ovary is discussed: it would appear that it is amongst the most resistant to oocyte-killing known. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.