THE EFFECTS OF X RAYS ON INSEMINATION AND SPERM RETENTION IN DROSOPHILA

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1964 · Genetics (U.S.)

OSTI ID:4072536

Yanders, A F

The effect of x rays on insemination success and retention of sperm during storage in inseminated females was studied by direct microscopic estimates of the relative fullness of excised ventral receptacles in female Drosophila melanogaster dissected at intervals following mating. Males were treated at 12 x- ray dose levels ranging from 500 to 75000 r and mated for 24 hours to untreated, virgin females. The insemination success in groups of females dissected immediately after the mating period was significantly lower in treated groups than in the controls at all doses of 4000 r or more. The reduction in insemination was proportional to -0.0066 times the dose in kiloroentgens at doses to 40 kr, and was even more extreme at doses of 60 and 75 kr. Males were treated with 4000, 25000, or 50000 r of x rays and mated for 24 hours to virgin untreated females. The insemination success in females dissected immediately after the mating period was lower in each treated group, and the retention of sperm after 7 and 14 days of storage in the females was drastically reduced in the 25000 and 50000 r groups. Inseminated females were treated at eight x ray dose levels ranging from 5000 r to 50000 r, and dissected at times ranging from 2 hours to 17 days after irradiation. Reductions in the success of the sperm retention were first noted 24 hours after irradiation at the highest dose levels, and became evident even at lower doses within the 17-day storage period. It was concluded that some aspect of sperm behavior, possibly motility, is affected by x rays at doses within the range commonly employed in genetic studies. This finding is significant for the analysis of induced mutation rates in Drosophila. (auth)

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing
• NSA Number: NSA-18-009859
• OSTI ID: 4072536
• Journal Information: Genetics (U.S.), Journal Name: Genetics (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 49; ISSN GENTA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
DROSOPHILA
GONADS
INSECTS
MICROSCOPY
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
REPRODUCTION
SEX
SPERM
STORAGE
X RADIATION