Genetic lesions induced by chemicals in spermatozoa and spermatids of mice are repaired in the egg.

Conclusive proof that the mouse egg is capable of carrying out repair of genetic lesions present in the male genome was obtained through dominant-lethal studies of chemically treated spermatozoa and spermatids and through cytological analysis of first-cleavage metaphases. The maximum difference in repair capability between stocks of females, found for isopropyl methanesulfonate treatment, was large; considerably smaller differences were found for ethyl methanesulfonate, triethylenemelamine, and benzo[a]pyrene treatments; and no difference was found for x-ray treatment.