Skip to main content
Log in

The effects of X-rays on the chromosomes of locust embryos

I. The early responses

  • Published:
Chromosoma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Irradiation of embryo cells of Schistocerca gregaria in the two hours before mitotic anaphase produces a characteristic series of responses. An apparently insensitive stage is followed by the production of “stickiness” and side-arm bridges and finally by mitotic delay. Mitotic delay is complete at doses as low as 25 R. It is argued that “stickiness’ is due to a generalised physiological process and that side-arm bridges are due to a localised exchange of discrete sub-units of the chromatid. These conclusions are based upon the kinetics of appearance and dose-response and a comparison of haploid and diploid cells in a haplo-diploid mosaic embryo.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Attwood, K. C.: Numbers of nuclear sites for aberration formation and the distribution of aberrations. In: Radiation induced chromosome aberrations, ed. S. Wolff, p. 73–86. New York: Columbia University Press 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bajer, A.: Sub-chromatid structure of chromosomes in the living state. Chromosoma (Berl.) 17, 291–302 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, J. R.: Cytological technique, 3rd ed., p. 182. London: Methuen 1950.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergerard, J., et J. Seugé: La parthénogenèse accidentelle chez Locusta migratoria L. Bull. biol. France et Belg. 90, 16–37 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Boss, J. M. N.: The contribution of the chromosomes to the telophase nucleus in cultures of fibroblasts of the adult crested newt Triturus cristatus carnifax. Exp. Cell Res. 18, 197–216 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brock, R. D.: Chromosome balance and endosperm failure in hyacinths. Heredity 9, 199–222 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, J. G.: Immediate effects of 250 r of X-rays on the different stages of mitosis in neuroblasts of the grasshopper Chortophaga viridifasciata. J. Morph. 66, 11–23 (1940); - Immediate effects on division morphology and viability of the cell. In: Radiation biology (ed. A. Hollaender), vol. 1 (2), p. 763–824. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co. 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conger, A. D.: The fate of metaphase aberrations. Radiat. Bot. 5, 81–96 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and L. M. Fairchild: A quick-freeze method for making smear slides permanent. Stain Technol. 28, 281–283 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouse, H. V.: X-ray breakage of lily chromosomes at first meiotic metaphase. Science 119, 485–487 (1954);- Irradiation of condensed meiotic chromosomes in Lilium longiflorum. Chromosoma (Berl.) 12, 190–214 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, H. J.: Chromatid aberrations induced by γ-radiation. I. The structure and frequency of chromatid interchanges in diploid and tetraploid cells of Vicia faba. Genetics 46, 257–275 (1961); - Chromosome aberrations induced by ionizing radiations. Int. Rev. Cytol. 13, 221–321 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and J. R. K. Savage: The relation between DNA synthesis and chromosome structure as resolved by X-ray damage. J. Cell Biol. 18, 525–540 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Giménez-Martín, G., and J. F. López-Sáez: Chromosome structure in the course of mitosis. Cytologia (Tokyo) 30, 14–22 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes-Schrader, S.: Cytology of coccids (Coccoidea-Homoptera). Advanc. Genet. 2, 127–203 (1948).

    Google Scholar 

  • John, B., and K. R. Lewis: The meiotic system. Protoplasmatologia 6, F 1 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • LaCour, L. F., and A. Rutishauser: X-ray breakage experiments with endosperm. I. Sub-chromatid breakage. Chromosoma (Berl.) 6, 696–709 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, K. R., and B. John: The meiotic consequences of spontaneous chromosome breakage. Chromosoma (Berl.) 18, 287–304 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, M. P.: Double-strandedness of meiotic prophase chromatids to light microscope optics and its relationship to genetic recombination. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 55, 44–50 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Manton, I.: New evidence on the telophase split in Todea barbara. Amer. J. Bot. 32, 342–348 (1945).

    Google Scholar 

  • Melander, Y.: Chromosomal behaviour during the origin of sex chromatin in the rabbit. Hereditas (Lund) 48, 645–661 (1962); - Chromatid tension and fragmentation during the development of Calliphora erythrocephala Meig. (Diptera). Hereditas (Lund) 49, 91–106 (1963a); - Cytogenetic aspects of embryogenesis in Paludicola, Tricladida. Hereditas (Lund) 49, 119–166 (1963b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Neary, G. J.: The relation between the exponent of dose response for chromosome aberrations and the relative contribution of “two-track” and “one-track” processes. Mutation Res. 2, 242–246 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nebel, B. R., and M. L. Ruttle: Chromosome structure. IX. Tradescantia reflexa and Trillium erectum. Amer. J. Bot. 23, 652–663 (1935).

    Google Scholar 

  • Östergren, G., and T. Wakonig: True or apparent sub-chromatid breakage and the induction of labile states in cytological chromosome loci. Bot. Not. (Lund) 4, 357–375 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohno, S., W. D. Kaplan, and R. Kinosita: Demonstration of bi-partite spiral structure on spermatogonial anaphase chromosomes of Mus musculus. Exp. Cell Res. 15, 426–428 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Peacock, W. J.: Sub-chromatid structure and chromosome duplication in Vicia faba. Nature (Lond.) 191, 832–833 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, B., and R. T. Hinegardner: Analysis of DNA synthesis and X-ray induced mitotic delay in sea urchin eggs. Radiat. Res. 26, 534–537 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Revell, S. H.: A new hypothesis for ‘chromatid’ changes. In: Radiobiology Symposium Liége 1954 (eds. Z. M. Bacq and P. Alexander) p. 243–253. London: Butterworth & Co. 1955; - A new hypothesis for the interpretation of chromatid aberrations, and its relevance to theories for the mode of action of chemical agents. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 68, 802–810 (1958); - Evidence for a dose-squared term in the dose-response curve for real chromatid discontinuities induced by X-rays, and some theoretical considerations thereof. Mutation Res. 3, 34–53 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sax, K., and K. Mather: An X-ray analysis of progressive chromosome splitting. J. Genet. 37, 483–490 (1939).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, T.: Parthenogenetic haploid embryos in the grasshopper, Aiolopus sp. Sci. and Culture (Calcutta) 28, 345–346 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, C. P.: X-ray and ultraviolet studies on pollen tube chromosome. II. The quadripartite structure of prophase chromosomes of Tradescantia. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 33, 229–232 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  • Trosko, J. E., and S. Wolff: Strandedness of Vicia faba chromosomes as revealed by enzyme digestion studies. J. Cell Biol. 26, 125–135 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, S.: Interpretation of induced chromosome breakage and rejoining. Radiat. Res., Suppl. 1, 453–462 (1959); - The kinetics for two break chromosome exchanges, and the 3/2 power rule. In: Repair from genetic radiation damage (ed. F. H. Sobels) p. 1–10. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and H. E. Luippold: Inaccuracy of anaphase bridges as a measure of radiation-induced nuclear damage. Nature (London) 179, 208–209 (1957); - Chromosome splitting as revealed by combined X-ray and labelling experiments. Exp. Cell Res. 34, 548–556 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fox, D.P. The effects of X-rays on the chromosomes of locust embryos. Chromosoma 19, 300–316 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326920

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326920

Keywords

Navigation