Early Growth Changes in Juvenile Abalone Haliotis discus discus Produced by Irradiation with Low-dose ⁶⁰Co Gamma Rays

Abstract

We observed that the growth and physiological change in Haliotis discus discus by low-dose irradiation with gamma ray.Irradiation with gamma ray was undertaken by using the low-level irradiation facility ( 60 CO) in cooperation with the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology at Jeju National University. The parent abalones were attached one by one and then fixed by using the rubber band to the front side of the fabricated case for irradiation with gamma ray. The experimental plots of irradiation with gamma ray were set as 10, 15, 20 and 25 Gy and the 25 female abalones and 10 male abalones were utilized for each experimental plot. The sperms and eggs were fertilized by setting an interval for each dose to prevent mixing with other experimental plots when fertilizing the sperms and eggs for each dose of irradiation with gamma ray. As for the fertility, it was confirmed to be 85% the control and 10 Gy groups, whereas it was found to be 80%, 65% and 50% in the 15 Gy, 20 Gy and 25 Gy groups, respectively. As a conclusion, the hatching rate and attachment rate were higher at 10 and 15 Gy than the other experimental plots, and the growth rate was higher at 20 Gy than the other experimental plots. Also the changes in lysozyme activity in accordance with the stress of water temperature were found to have a significant increase in the other experimental plots as compared with the control plot at the end of 0 h. The changes in lysozyme activity have remained constant in all the experimental plots at the end of 12 h. These results allowed us to confirm that lysozyme was undertaking the biodefense action by reacting sensitively to the stress of water temperature in the control experimental plot. As for the other experimental plots, they are believed to avoid the biodefense mechanism due to the high degree of anti-parasite mechanism and anti-viral mechanism. Thus, it is believed that it would be imperative to conduct development and research on breeds that were potent for environmental tolerance by applying the method of irradiation with gamma ray to other marine animals and plants.