INDUCTION OF DOMINANT LETHAL MUTATIONS IN INSECT OOCYTES AND SPERM BY GAMMA RAYS AND AN ALKYLATING AGENT: DOSE-RESPONSE AND JOINT ACTION STUDIES

Abstract

is generally recognized that certain types of chemicals cause biological effects I z o s e l y resembling those produced by radiation. Among these effects are the production of mutations, chromosome aberrations, and induction of sterility and cancer in animals. Our interest has been mainly to determine the effect of gamma radiation and alkylating agents upon growth and maturation of insect reproduc-tive cells and the production of sterility by inducing dominant lethal mutations in these cells. In undertaking the studies reported herein we had several immedi-ate objectives: (1) To determine dose-response curves for induction of dominant lethal mutations by either radiation or tretamine (2,4,6-tris (I-aziridinyl) -s-triazine) in meiotic oocytes and mature sperm for comparison of slopes, reaction kinetics and median lethal doses; (2) to compare response of different cell stages to either mutagen; and (3) to derive preliminary information from dose-response curves for later tests to determine potentiation of one agent by the other. No published study has come to our attention in which an inquiry was made into the combined action of a chemical mutagen and radiation in the induction of domi-nant lethal mutations.