Behavioral and electrophysiological studies of radiation detection in a freshwater crustacean. [Pacifastacus trowbridgii]

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3574362· OSTI ID:7270228

Rodriguez, A; Kimeldorf, D J

Behavioral and electrophysiological studies were done on the crayfish (Pacifastacus trowbridgii Stimpson) to determine its ability to detect exposure to 300 kVp x rays. Behavioral arousal responses were observed at exposure rates of 10 to 30 R/sec. Wholebody and partial-body exposures of eye-stalkless (blinded) animals also induced similar responses and indicated a radiation-sensitive receptor in the abdomen. Prolonged exposure under free choice of residence conditions induced an avoidance of the x-ray field. X-ray exposure of the dark-adapted compound eye evoked an electroretinogram (ERG) that was similar to the light-evoked ERG. The ERG amplitude was directly proportional to the total exposure with exposures less than 300 msec duration and related to the logarithm of the exposure rate with exposures greater than 300 msec. X-ray exposure of receptor sites on the medial branch of the antennule and the cheliped of the first walking-leg did not yield any significant chemoreceptor responses as judged by electrophysiological tests. X-irradiation of the sixth abdominal ganglion in both isolated and in vivo preparations elicited significant increases in neural impulse activity. The latency varied inversely with exposure rate. Spike potentials evoked by x rays were similar to those evoked by light; however, a supplemental increase in spikes of lower amplitude occurred that did not occur during light stimulation. It appears likely that the behavioral response in the crayfish, subjected to abdomen-only exposure, may be instigated by x-ray excitation of the sixth ganglion.

• Research Organization: Oregon State Univ., Corvallis
• OSTI ID: 7270228
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 66:1; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560153* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Invertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CRUSTACEANS
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EYES
GANGLIONS
INVERTEBRATES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANS
PHYSIOLOGY
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SENSE ORGANS
X RADIATION