SOME EFFECTS OF NITRIC OXIDE AND OXYGEN ON DOMINANT LETHAL PRODUCTION IN X- IRRADIATED DROSOPHILA VIRILIS MALES

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4739869

Rinehart, R R

Drosophila virilis males were treated with various x-ray doses in the presence of small amounts of oxygen, nitric oxide, or a combination of the gases. The effects upon sperm survival were tested at a warm temperature, 2325 deg C, and at a cold temperature, 3-5 deg C. Control experiments were conducted in anoxia and in air at similar x-ray doses and temperatures. The treated males were matured for five days and then mated to three heterozygous females for successive two day mating periods. The number of eggs laid each day was recorded. Irradiation damage in Drosophila virtlis males was enhanced approximately the same whether 1, 2, or 3% NO was used as the test-gas. This was true at either the 500 or 1000 r level of x radiation. One atmosphere air, at 23-25 deg C, or 3% O2, at 3-5 deg C, showed a similar amount of damage, with similar x-ray doses, as was observed when small amounts of NO were used. A lower temperature did not appear to alter the x-ray damage when the flies were treated with NO or anoxia. However, at 3-5 deg C irradiation damage was grently enhanced when 3% O/sub 2/ was used as the test-gas. Flies were treated in a mixture of NO, O/sub 2/, and NO/sub 2/ prepared by mixing 3% NO and 3% O/sub 2/. Through hydrolysis of the NO/ sub 2/, nitric and nitrous acids were presumably formed within the cell. At room temperature the amount of damage under these conditions was intermediate to that observed in the NO tests and tests conducted in anoxia. By lowering the temperature, the amount of damage was increased. The amount of lethality usually associated with 2 or 3% NO and 500 r was decreased if, immediately after irradiation in NO, the flies were posttreated with 1 atm oxygen. A six day period during which no eggs developed from females mated with Drosophila virilis males treated with 3% NO was due to a lack of mature sperm rather than to complete lethality. No definite conclusions were reached regarding mechanisms of enhancement of x irradiation damage in Drosophila virilis males by NO. A number of experiments are pointed out that might resolve more completely the mode or modes of action of NO in the system. (Dissertation Abstr., 23: No. 5, Nov. 1982.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-007885
• OSTI ID: 4739869
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
DROSOPHILA
EGGS
GASES
GENETICS
GONADS
HYDROLYSIS
INSECTS
LIFETIME
NITRIC ACID
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXYGEN
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
REPRODUCTION
SPERM
TEMPERATURE
X RADIATION