Premium
Sensitivity of Spathidium spathula to Low Doses of X‐Radiation *
Author(s) -
WILLIAMS DONALD B.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1962.tb02592.x
Subject(s) - ciliate , irradiation , zoology , lethal dose , toxicology , radiation sensitivity , biology , dose rate , radiation , nuclear medicine , chemistry , radiochemistry , medicine , ecology , optics , physics , nuclear physics
SYNOPSIS. When Spathidium spathula was exposed to X‐ray doses ranging from 1–25 kr this animal was found to be more radiosensitive than any ciliate previously reported. A dose of 1 kr is sufficient to increase the time of the first generation from 5 to about 5 1/2 hours. A dose of 4 kr is enough to approximately double the generation time. Bacteria in the medium during irradiation do not protect the ciliate against injury. Animals irradiated as dry cysts are only slightly more resistant than vegetative forms, requiring 10 kr to double the generation time. One day after exposure, irradiated lines are uniformly poor in growth rate (0–2 daily divisions), but later a bimodal response is noticed, some lines remaining poor and others recovering. Within 24 hours after treatment, a number of irradiated animals show structural abnormalities and are greatly increased in size. The experiments have not determined the reason for the high sensitivity of Spathidium but have made certain alternatives unlikely.