Nature and consequences of induced chromosome damage in mammals.

There are marked qualitative and quantitative differences in the patterns of chromosomal damage observed after irradiation of spermatogonia, spermatozoa and oocytes of mice. These differences often result from reduced or zero transmission of particular classes of abberration arising in pre-meiotic germ cells. Probably this is the reason why the level of X-chromosomal and autosomal monosomy is not increased after spermatogonial irradiation.