Some Effects of Gamma Radiation on Fertility of Drosophila melanogaster and Viability of Sperm after Multiple Matings of Males

Abstract

Untreated Drosophila melanogaster Meigen females mated to males exposed to 16 kr of gamma radiation in the pupal or adult stage produced as many eggs as untreated females mated to untreated males, but few or no adults emerged. Females exposed to 16 kr during the pupal or adult stage and mated to untreated males produced no eggs. When males and females were treated with 16 kr as 1-, 5-, or 10-day-old adults and mated immediately after treatment, normal numbers of eggs were produced but very few adults emerged, except for females treated when 10 days old, which produced a significantly larger number of eggs than females treated at 1 and 5 days of age. When 1-, 5-, or 10-day-old males were irradiated with 16 kr and mated 1 or 6 days after treatment to untreated females, normal numbers of eggs were produced, but again few or no adults emerged, an indication that restoration of damaged sperm did not occur. When males exposed to 8 or 16 kr were individually furnished a series of untreated virgin females within an 8-hour period on the same day of treatment and 5 and 10 days after treatment, the females laid fairly normal numbers of eggs, but 99% of these eggs were sterile. Fewer eggs were deposited by the fourth and fifth untreated females in each series than by the first and second females.