The "Hertwig Effect" in Teleost Development

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Biological Bulletin. Marine Biological Laboratory

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1539579· OSTI ID:4692230

Lasher, R.; Rugh, R.

Mature sperm of the marine teleost Fundulus heteroclitus were exposed to Cs¹³⁷ gamma radiation at a dose rate of 5000 r/min, to total doses ranging from 5000 to 150000 r, and were then used to fertilize normal eggs of the same species. Control eggs from the same batch were inseminated with unirradiated sperm from the same source. Sperm retained motility even after 150000 r. While variations in normal fertilizability of the control eggs did occur, associated with the season and breeding activity, in every case some eggs were fertilized and developed following insemination with sperm that had been exposed to every dose level. This was not mere activation since cleavages followed. The presence of irradiated sperm chromatin had no effect on the time or nature of the early cleavages. The initial adverse effects were noted at the time of gastrulation. Exposure of sperm to 500 r had no apparent effect on the development of eggs, while exposures to 5000 r caused high mortality and morbidity, and at doses above 5000 r the effect of radiation appeared to decrease so that a greater percentage of near-normal embryos resulted from cleaving eggs. A severe abnormality common to both the 5000-r and 50000-r series was the failure of the embryo to form either a neural or body axis. The fact that a few specimens from sperm receiving 50000 r or more could not be readily distinguished from the controls suggests that complete recovery of diploidy may sometimes occur after activation. This was substantiated by cytological examination.

• Research Organization: Marine Biological Lab., Woods Hole, Mass.; Columbia Univ., New York
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-023107
• OSTI ID: 4692230
• Journal Information: Biological Bulletin. Marine Biological Laboratory, Journal Name: Biological Bulletin. Marine Biological Laboratory Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 123; ISSN 0006-3185
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CESIUM 137
CHROMOSOMES
CYTOLOGY
EGGS
EMBRYOS
FISH
GAMMA RADIATION
GONADS
MALFORMATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
REPRODUCTION
SPERM
STERILIZATION
TESTING
VARIATIONS