Production of Sterility in Mice by Deuterium Oxide

Some of the conditions required to produce sterility in male mice by D/ sub 2/O were investigated. Sterility can be produced in C/sub 57/ male mice by substitution of 30% D/sub 2/O for normal water in the drinking water for two weeks. The mice become sterile four weeks aftcr the initial treatment with D/sub 2/O, and in this experiment two weeks after normal water has again been provided in the drinking water. By this and other experiments the sensitive phase of sperm production was shown to be centered around the late prophase of meiosis. It is suggested that the normal construction of the genetic material was affected and that the mechanism of action of D/sub 2/O is at the macromolecular level. (auth)