effect of prenatal gamma-irradiation on postnatal enzyme development in the Beagle

The effect has been examined of a single exposure to 250-R 60 Co γ-radiation of the beagle conceptus at either the early blastocyst or late embryo stage on the ontogenesis of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase and glucose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase in liver and glucose-6-phosphatase in liver and kidney. The postnatal activity of all hepatic enzymes was depressed in irradiated animals but at times varying with the enzyme and the age at exposure. It is suggested that the phenomenon represents a latent effect of radiation which is not expressed until a demand is placed upon enzyme synthetic mechanisms.