Comparison of electron irradiation diets and gamma irradiation diets for reproductive effects on rats

Rats were maintained on 50 kGy electron irradiation diets. Effects of the diets on reproductive performance of parents and developmental performance of fetuses (F1 and F2) were studied by comparison with data in rats maintained on gamma irradiation diets, as control animals, and the background data of our facility. As the result, no specific changes were observed in the group maintained on electron irradiation diets. Electron irradiation diets sterilized under the condition of 50 kGy irradiation in the present study, as well as the existing gamma irradiation diets, were found to be useful for breeding and nursing rats.