THE ROLE OF RECOVERY MECHANISMS AND OXYGEN EFFECTS UPON CHANGES IN RADIATION SENSITIVITY IN SPERM TREATED IN MATURE MALES AND FERTILIZED FEMALES OF DROSOPHILA

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Genetics (U.S.)

OSTI ID:4743706

Alexander, M L

An increase in biological damage in sperm treated in inseminated females was observed after treatment with either neutrons or x rays. Recovery mechanisms cannot account for the high sensitivity with neutron treatment. The absence of recovery mechanisms was indicated by equal percentages of biological damage observed the first and second day after treatment with 2 Mev neutrons in air or with 14 Mev neutrons in nitrogen. With x-ray treatment, higher percentages of translocations and sex-linked lethals were observed in the treatment of sperm in inseminated females than in males. The enhancement in chromosome breakage, measured as translocations, was greater in sperm treated in fertilized females than the increase in sex-linked lethals with x-ray treatment in air. The presence of oxygen (air) appears to be correlated with the enhancement in chromosome breakage in sperm treated in fertilized females. In nitrogen, the relative increases in translocations and sex-linked lethals in sperm treated in females were similar for comparisons of two-day totals. The possibiiity of a postradiation enhancement of radiation damage was observed when mature sperm were treated in inseminated females with x rays in the presence of nitrogen gas. The percentages of translocations and sex-linked lethals were higher in the second day after treatment than the damage for the first day. The data indicate that an explanation for the increase in radiation sensitivity of mature sperm treated in fertilized females involves more than one factor, the relative importance depending upon the type of radiation and conditions at the time of irradiation. The neutron data show that the chromosomes change in some way to become more sensitive to radiation injury after fertilization. The x-ray data indicate that there may be differences in recovery occurring in genetic damage in sperm treated in maies and inseminated females and that there is an increase in chromosome breakage which is associated with the increased sensitivity. There is also a correlation of an increase in chromosome breakage and the presence of oxygen and a possible postradiation enhancement of radiation damage which may be associated with the presence or absence of oxygen. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Texas, Austin; Anderson Hospital and Tumor Inst., Houston, Tex., and Inst. of Animal Genetics, Edinburgh
• NSA Number: NSA-17-007840
• OSTI ID: 4743706
• Report Number(s): TID-16845; 0016-6731
• Journal Information: Genetics (U.S.), Journal Name: Genetics (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 47; ISSN GENTA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AIR
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CHROMOSOMES
DROSOPHILA
GONADS
INSECTS
NEUTRONS
NITROGEN
OXYGEN
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RECOVERY
SEX
SPERM
X RADIATION