The Permeability of the Shell of the Egg of Teleogryllus Commodus Measured with the Aid of Tritiated Water

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Abstract
1. Eggs of Teleogryllus commodus were incubated at 30° C. for 5 days; that is, during the initial 2 days when little change in weight is observed, the third day when the eggs absorb water rapidly, and during 2 more days when little further change in weight is seen. 2. Each day samples of eggs were immersed in tritiated water (100 µcml.-1) at 30, 25, 21, 17 and 12° C. After treatment for 1, 6 and 24 hr. the radioactivity in the shells and in the contents of five eggs from each group was measured. 3. About five times as much radioactivity was found in the contents as in the shells. The activity was greatest at 30° C. and least at 12° C. on all days and at all times. Radioactivity taken up by the eggs was least on the first a days, rose sharply on the third day and remained high thereafter. 4. The results are discussed in relation to the mechanism of water-absorption in the eggs.