The long-term effects of acute exposure to ionising radiation on survival and fertility in Daphnia magna.
The results of recent studies have provided strong evidence for the transgenerational effects of parental exposure to ionising radiation and chemical mutagens. However, the transgenerational effects of parental exposure on survival and fertility remain poorly understood. To establish whether parental irradiation can affect the survival and fertility of directly exposed organisms and their offspring, crustacean Daphnia magna were given 10, 100, 1000 and 10,000mGy of acute γ-rays. Exposure to 1000 and 10,000mGy significantly compromised the viability of irradiated Daphnia and their first-generation progeny, but did not affect the second-generation progeny. The fertility of F0 and F1Daphnia gradually declined with the dose of parental exposure and significantly decreased at dose of 100mGy and at higher doses. The effects of parental irradiation on the number of broods were only observed among the F0Daphnia exposed to 1000 and 10,000mGy, whereas the brood size was equally affected in the two consecutive generations. In contrast, the F2 total fertility was compromised only among progeny of parents that received the highest dose of 10,000mGy. We propose that the decreased fertility observed among the F2 progeny of parents exposed to 10,000mGy is attributed to transgenerational effects of parental irradiation. Our results also indicate a substantial recovery of the F2 progeny of irradiated F0Daphnia exposed to the lower doses of acute γ-rays.
Department of Biology, Institute of Nuclear Power Engineering NRNU MEPhI, Studgorodok,1, Obninsk, Kaluga Region 249040, Russian Federation; National Research Nuclear University "MEPhI", Kashirskoe Highway, 31, Moscow 115409, Russian Federation.
Elena I
EI
Sarapultseva
Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom; Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Gubkina Str. 3, 11933 Moscow, Russian Federation. Electronic address: yed2@le.ac.uk.
Yuri E
YE
Dubrova
D000818:Animals; D003621:Daphnia / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005298:Fertility / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D008136:Longevity / Q000528:radiation effects
Daphnia; Fertility; Radiation; Transgenerational; Viability