Prevention of radiation induced infertility in women treated for cancer.

Cancer treatments can cause fertility problems, a particular concern for young patients. A new study with monkeys (Rhesus macaques) showed that pre-treatment of females with chemicals that prevent cell death can prevent the infertility caused by radiation.  The monkeys were given sphingosine-1-phosphate or a look-alike molecule and then exposed to radiation.  The treated females where shown to be able to conceive normally and their offspring appeared normal.  The offspring of this first generation were also normal.