Preconceptional Paternal Exposure to Embedded Depleted Uranium Fragments: Transmission of Genetic Damage to Offspring
Abstract
The Persian Gulf War resulted in friendly fire casualties among U.S. personnel injured by fragments of depleted uranium (DU) munitions. The demonstrated effectiveness of such weapons makes it likely that they may be used against U.S. forces in future conflicts. Uncertainty about how aggressively to remove fragments of the radioactive, chemically toxic DU has stimulated research into the long-term health consequences of embedded DU fragments. There has been no previous research to determine whether long-term exposure to embedded DU can affect the health of offspring of personnel wounded by DU. This study investigates whether male mice carrying embedded fragments of DU transmit genetic damage to their offspring. We hypothesize that long-term chronic exposure to embedded DU results in paternal transmission of genetic damage to unexposed Fl generation offspring, characterized by increased frequency of in vivo mutations in tissues. During this the second year of this project, we have completed metal (DU and tungsten) implantation surgeries, completed breeding of DU-implanted mice, completed neutron-irradiations, initiated breeding of tungsten-implanted mice, initiated the mutation assay and initiated the DNA damage assay to assess direct DNA damage in germ cells.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA425734
Entities
People
- Alexandra C. Miller
Organizations
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine