PRODUCTION OF HERITABLE PARTIAL STERILITY IN THE MOUSE BY METHYL METHANESULPHONATE

Partial sterility, in the sense of reduced reproductive capacity, has been demonstrated in the F(1) progeny of male mice mated in the second week after a single dose of methyl methanesulphonate (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) with females of proved fertility. Sterility, both partial and complete, was encountered in the F(2) generation obtained by mating F(1) males and females with fertile partners. These results show that the compound, in a substerilizing dose, is capable of producing transmissible genetic damage. It is suggested that the procedure used is a practicable method of testing drugs for possible genetic effects.