EFFECT ON ADULT EMERGENCE OF WHOLE AND PARTIAL X-IRRADIATION OF PUPAE OF THE HOUSEFLY, MUSCA DOMESTICA NEBULO

Abstract

AbstractIrradiation of specific regions of 5- to 20-h-old housefly pupae with X-rays shows that exposure of anterior seven segments alone to 1200 r prevents adult emergence, whereas irradiation of posterior region with doses up to 10,000 r has no effect on this phenomenon. It is evident that the target organ, damage to which results in the failure of adult emergence, lies in the anterior seven segments. It is suggested that failure to emerge is due to a direct effect of radiation on the differentiating myoblasts leading to dystrophy of the muscles.