Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Radiation-induced inhibition of eclosion in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Journal Article · · Biol. Bull.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1540557· OSTI ID:7211816

Control of eclosion in Manduca sexta (laboratory reared at 23 to 25/sup 0/C on 18L:6D) was investigated by utilizing the ED/sub 50/ (x-ray exposure required to prevent eclosion in 50 percent of the irradiated animals) throughout pupal-adult development as a measure of radiation sensitivity. An initial period (day 0 to 6) of nearly constant radiosensitivity (ED/sub 50/ range: 13.0 to 14.4 kr) was followed by a brief period of increased radiosensitivity between day 6.5 to 7.75 (ED/sub 50/:8.23 kr). Thereafter, a pronounced decrease in radiosensitivity was noted through the day of eclosion (day 8: ED/sub 50/ = 19 kr; day 22: ED/sub 50/ = 75 kr). The association between hemolymph ecdysone levels and maximum radiosensitivity observed on day 7 was studied. Animals administered ..beta..-ecdysone on days 1, 4, and 12, and irradiated at various times post-injection, exhibited significant increases in radiosensitivity. Thus, radiosensitivity exhibited by Manduca sexta on days 0 to 7 is in part dependent upon the titer of ecdysone in hemolymph. The role of the brain as a radiosensitive region was investigated in day 10 animals by selectively transplanting ED/sub 100/-irradiated and nonirradiated brains into ED/sub 100/-irradiated and nonirradiated animals. The presence of a radiosensitive component in addition to the brain is proposed since the radiation-induced inhibition of eclosion could not be completely explained in terms of brain damage alone. Selective shielding of day 10 animals x-irradiated at an ED/sub 100/ level demonstrated the absence of radiosensitive regions in the abdomen and their presence in both the head and thorax.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville
OSTI ID:
7211816
Journal Information:
Biol. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Biol. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 152:2; ISSN BIBUA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English