Midgut cells alteration in gamma-irradiated beetles (Blaps polycresta, Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Alteração das células do intestino médio em besouros irradiados com radiação gama (Blaps polycresta, Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the effect of gamma radiation on biological specimens. Thus, our concept is to clarify that exposure to accumulated dose of 0.2 Gy gamma rays (0.66 rad/Sec. dose rate) from Cs137 source induces cellular perturbations in the midgut epithelium of the F1 progeny of Blaps polycresta, therefore affecting nutrition and growth. Beetles were reared in laboratory conditions and the newly emerged adults were irradiated with the aforementioned dose. Histological and ultrastructure anomalies of midgut cells (digestive and regenerative cells) were observed by 72 h after radiation exposure to ensure that the cells will not return to control state. Retardation in the development of the F1 progeny was also noticed and beetles died through two weeks. In the light of these observations, biological tissue act as an indicator to the continuous exposure to environmental radiation.

Keywords:
gamma irradiation; beetles; midgut cells; histological and ultrastructure anomalies