Compared with ova in younger and older women, ova in women of reproductive age are:

Compared with ova in younger and older women, ova in women of reproductive age are:

• A. More radiosensitive
• B. About the same
• C. Less radiosensitive
• D. Not enough information

Answer: (C)

Radiosensitivity of female germ cells varies with their developmental stage. Oogonia and early-stage oocytes present during fetal life are actively dividing, which makes them highly vulnerable to radiation. As oocytes mature and puberty occurs, most ova are in a long arrest during prophase I, and these mature, arrested oocytes are comparatively resistant to radiation damage. In women of reproductive age, the remaining ova are primarily this more mature, less division-prone population, so they are less radiosensitive than the germ cells seen in younger (fetal) life or in the older stages when the follicle pool is depleted. This is why ova in reproductive-age women are less radiosensitive.

Radiosensitivity of female germ cells varies with their developmental stage. Oogonia and early-stage oocytes present during fetal life are actively dividing, which makes them highly vulnerable to radiation. As oocytes mature and puberty occurs, most ova are in a long arrest during prophase I, and these mature, arrested oocytes are comparatively resistant to radiation damage. In women of reproductive age, the remaining ova are primarily this more mature, less division-prone population, so they are less radiosensitive than the germ cells seen in younger (fetal) life or in the older stages when the follicle pool is depleted. This is why ova in reproductive-age women are less radiosensitive.