Abstract
The polychaet, Ophryotrodia puerilis, which is easily bred in the laboratory, lends itself well to research on the effects of radiation on invertebrates. Growth, which depends on the activity of a growth zone, is accomplished by the addition of segments. It is, therefore, easily recorded quantitatively. Radiation doses up to 100,000 r (3335 r/min) were used. The effect of the radiation depends on the size of animal. In animals of 20 segments the LD 50/30 dose is about 50,000 r; in animals of 10 segments doses of 20,000 r and greater completely inhibit growth, and doses of 10,000 r inhibit the growth of smaller animals. Animals with 10 segments slight retardation of growth after 5,000 and 10,000 r, while the smaller animals do not grow after 10,000 r of radiation and have their growth significantly retarded by 5,000 r. — Eggs laid by sexually mature females treated with 50,000 r fail to develop. After 20,000 and 10,000 r the eggs laid in the first 10 days do not develop but eggs exposed later are capable of develpoment. Animals of 10 segments are fertile after 10,000 r but sterile after 20,000 r. — Fractionation of the radiation dose decreases the mortality rate and, with a total dose of 20,000 r, allows growth. — Irradiation of eggs has an effect that is dependent on the age of the embryo. Up to 9 days 1000 r are lethal; from 10 days on 2000 r have no effect on development. Irradiation with 500 r shows no effect, while two 250 r increments of dose given 48 hours apart kill eggs 2 — 10 days old.