Effect of lead on polytenic chromosomes from salivary glands of Chironomus Plumosus L. and Glyptotendipes Glaucus Mg. (Diptera, Chironomidae)

Abstract

Background. Experimental conditions allow to determine the structural and functional changes of polytene chromosomes under the influence of free ions of an individual metal. Materials and methods. C. plumosus (L.) and G. glaucus (Mg) larvae were placed in solutions of lead nitrate: 0.01, 0.02, 0.1 and 0.5 mg/l. Exposure 12 h. Analysis of preparations of polytene chromosomes was carried out using the Carl Zeiss PrimoStar microscope. The functional activity factor of the nucleolus organizer (NOR), the coefficient of genetic activity of the Balbiani ring (BRR) was calculated. Results. Equations of the dependence of the change in the coefficients: NOR = 5,1870,01 lnC for C. plumosus and NOR = 2,110,03 lnC for G. glaucus; BRR = 1,5040,04 lnC for C. plumosus and BRR = 2,018 + 0,03 lnC for G. glaucus. Conclusion. With an increase in the concentration of lead in both C. plumosus and G. glaucus decreases NOR, which implies a decrease in the intensity of protein biosynthesis processes. BRR decreases in C. plumosus and increases in G. glaucus. The different genome reactions of the two species indicate the existence of different mechanisms of adaptation to lead ions