Summary
Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) were exposed to high-LET krypton (84Kr) ions at low (4.2 rad) and high (1,584 rad) doses and killed to assess acute (36 h post-exposure) and late (35 days post-exposure) effects in the brain by means of electron microscopy. The main findings were: (a) glycogen granules appeared in the neuroglial compartment 36 h after exposure to either dose and were no longer present in flies killed 35 days later, (b) neuronal alterations (swelling and membrane disruption) were observed 35 days after exposure to both doses, (c) changes in the neuroglia (electron-dense masses of concentrically arranged membranous structures) were seen 35 days after exposure. The data are discussed in relation to previous research in the fruit fly using argon (40Ar) charged particles and to other radiation studies performed in the mammalian brain with the view of using the insect brain as a model for detailed study of radiation effects on neurons, neuroglia, and the neuron-neuroglia unit.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Grahn D (1973) HZE-particle effects in manned spaceflight. National Academy of Science, Washington, DC
Haymaker W, Rubinstein LJ, Miquel J (1972) Brain tumors in irradiated monkeys. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 20:267–277
Herman MM, Miquel J, Johnson M (1971) Insect brain as a model for the study of aging. Age related changes inDrosophila melanogaster. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 19:167–183
Klatzo I, Miquel J, Tobias C, Haymaker W (1961) Effects of α-particle radiation on the rat brain including vascular permeability and glycogen studies. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 20:459–483
Kraft LM, Kelly MA, Johnson JE, Benton EV, Henke RP, Cassou R, Haymaker W, Philpott DE, Vogel FS, Zeman W (1979) Effects of high-LET (20Ne) particle radiation on the brain, eyes and other head structures of the pocket mouse: A histological study. Int J Radiat Biol 35:33–61
Miquel J, Haymaker W (1965a) Glycogen accumulation in monkey and cat brain exposed to proton radiation. Proc Int Congr Neuropathol, pp 792–797
Miquel J, Haymaker W (1965b) Astroglial reactions to ionizing radiation: With emphasis on glycogen accumulation. Progr Brain Res 15:89–114
Miquel J, Herman MM, Benton EV, Welch G (1976) Effects of high-LET particles (40Ar) on the brain ofDrosophila melanogaster. Int J Radiat Biol 29:101–124
Miquel J, Klatzo I, Menzel DB, Haymaker W (1963) Glycogen changes in X-irradiated brain. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 2:482–490
Pevzner LZ (1979) Functional biochemistry of the neuroglia. Consultants Bureau, New York
Roots BI (1978) A phylogenetic approach to the anatomy of glia. In: Schoffeniels E, Franck G, Hertz L, Tower DB (eds) Dynamic properties of glia cells. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 45–54
Wolfe LS, Klatzo I, Miquel J, Tobias C, Haymaker W (1962) Effect of alpha-particle irradiation on brain glycogen in the rat. J Neurochem 9:213–218
Zeman W, Curtis HJ (1962)_Metabolic and histochemical studies on direct radiation-induced nerve cell necrosis. Proc Int Cong Neuropathol, pp 141–147
Zeman W, Curtis HJ, Baker CP (1961) Histopathologic effect of high-energy-particle microbeams on the visual cortex of the mouse brain. Radiat Res 15:496–514
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported in part by grant no. NSG-2063 from Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
D'Amelio, F.E., Kraft, L.M., Benton, E.V. et al. An electron-microscopic study of the brain of the fruit fly,Drosophila melanogaster, exposed to high-LET krypton (84Kr) particle radiation. Acta Neuropathol 57, 37–44 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688875
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688875