Response of developing mouse liver irradiated in utero and its modification by 2-mercaptopropionylglycine

Pregnant Swiss albino mice were exposed at gestation days 141/4, 161/4 and 181/4 to 1.5 Gy gamma radiation from 60Co in the presence or absence of 2-mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG). Liver was taken from the litters born to these mothers at different post-partum intervals. The maximum sensitivity was found in 4-week-old animals irradiated at gestation day 141/4. In the MPG treated groups, the number of total cells was higher than in the controls but less than in normals. The increase in pyknotic nuclei and necrotic and binucleate cells was significantly lowered by MPG.