Effect of radiation on the maturation of epithelial cells on Sarcophaga peregrina

When the larvae of a Sarcophaga, peregrina were irradiated, a defect of the abdominal skin occurred at the final phase of maturation. The percentage of defective individual larvae was used as an index for a qualitative description of the effect of radiation. Radiation was performed at 50 KVp, 5 mA, and 0.50 KR/min.. At the age of 10-days, the larvae were taken out of the coarctate pupae and observed. The area of the defect depended on the dose and the age of the larvae at the time of radiation. Larvae less than 50 hours old were sensitive to radiation, and those at the age of 40 hours showed maximum sensitivity. Larvae older than 50 hours showed resistance to radiation. The individual differences of the defective areas, which were measured semi-quantitatively, were also described. (Serizawa, K.)