Modification of development on the basis of differential susceptibility to radiation I. Fundulus heteroclitus and ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

This paper reports experiments with Fundulus heteroclitus to modify larval development by means of ultraviolet radiation. Eggs were exposed to radiation at various intervals after fertilization for varving periods of time. The results accord with previous work on fish teratology, and the developmental types obtained are essentially similar to those produced by chemicals, cold, and hybridization. The deviations from normal development occur in the same body regions as do those in other vertebrates whose early development has been modified by the action of radiation (x-rays, radium, etc.).The results of these experiments indicate that there is a non-specificity i n susceptibility relations with the production of similar types of monsters for widely different reagents.That these eggs are differentially susceptible to the action of ultraviolet radiation is indicated by the fact that those regions which have the highest metabolic activity when a n inhibiting influence is active are the ones most generally affected. Thus modifications of the nervous system, sense organs, circulatory system, tail region, and body axis result, respectively, in the production of varying degrees of cydopia, inadequate circulation, short, stubby or bent, non-motile tails (some bifid), and anterior twinning.As these modifications may be produced by applying inhibiting influences during the first few minutes after fertilization, it is evident that there is in the egg a t this stage some constitutional or physiological basis which determines early differences in susceptibility of its various parts. * National Research Fellow. 939 JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, VOL. 41, NO. 1 :;. Embryonic, rapidly (liffcreiitiatiiig tissues arc more sus-4.weak dosage may acc~elc~ratc~, wliilc~ a stiwiig tlosag:.cb tj. Tlic~ more iiiteiise the radiatioii aiitl the carlicr applic(1, c ep t ibl e t 11 a ii adult ti s s11 e s . tl el a y s, ce 11 act ivi t J-.t h e m o w marlmi the tlcfccts. ' 2 , 3, 4, 3, and 6 appear to hold also for ultraviolet radiation, :IS shown bp the work on fish development.

Synergistic Interactions within Disturbed Habitats between Temperature, Relative Humidity and UVB Radiation on Egg Survival in a Diadromous Fish

“…In addition to buffering temperatures and humidity, vegetation around micro-sites shades developing G. maculatus eggs and significantly reduces UVB radiation reaching them. Many aquatic organisms, including fish [35] , amphibians [36] , [37] and intertidal invertebrates [38] , [39] , routinely deposit their egg masses in locations where the embryos have proven to be susceptible to periods of elevated UVB radiation. Frequently these are demersal (bottom-deposited) eggs with periodic emersion, but fully immersed fish eggs can also be vulnerable to UVB radiation, depending on the transparency and depth of water in which they are laid [19] , [20] , [40] , [41] .…”

Testing the vulnerability of the phylotypic stage: On modularity and evolutionary conservation

“…We did not find any suitable data for reptiles or amphibians, except for the observation of Woskressensky (1928) that susceptibility to X radiation in Axolotls is highest during (and before) fertilization and then decreases to increase again during the phylotypic stage and during hatching. For fishes we found two experiments, both measuring vulnerability to radiation in the killifish Fundulus heteroclitus: a study by Hinrichs (1925) using UV radiation and one by Solberg (1938) using X radiation. In F. heteroclitus the phylotypic stage lasts approximately from 23 to 75 hr (Solberg, 1938).…”

Polyembryony in teleostean fishes: double monstrosities and triplets

“…The data of Hinrichs (1925Hinrichs ( , 1938Hinrichs ( , 1939 and Hinrichs & Genther (1931) on the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the developing embryos of Fundulus heteroclitus, have been particularly rewarding for the large numbers of axial duplications induced. Lowering of temperature has also been reported to cause axial duplications in Fundulus heteroclitus (Stockard,192 1,193 I), Gasterosteus aculeatus (Swarup, 1959) and the mountain whitefish, Prosopiurn williamsoni (Rajagopal, 1979).…”

“…Investigations were also conducted on symmetry reversal of the viscera (situs inversus viscerum) by Morrill (1919), Swett (1921, Komai (1938), Lynn (1938Lynn ( , 1946 On the experimental side, exposure of chinook salmon, 0. tshawylscha, to gamma-radiation (Gunstrom, 1967), of Salmo gairdneri to X-rays (Newcombe & McGregor, 1973), and of coho salmon to cobalt-60 radiation (Gunstrom, 1973) yielded occasional duplications along with numerous other malformations in early embryos. The data of Hinrichs (1925Hinrichs ( , 1938Hinrichs ( , 1939 and Hinrichs & Genther (1931) on the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the developing embryos of Fundulus heteroclitus, have been particularly rewarding for the large numbers of axial duplications induced. Lowering of temperature has also been reported to cause axial duplications in Fundulus heteroclitus (Stockard,192 1,193 I), Gasterosteus aculeatus (Swarup, 1959) and the mountain whitefish, Prosopiurn williamsoni (Rajagopal, 1979).…”