The Effects of X-Rays on the Respiratory Metabolism of Eggs and Embryos of the Grasshopper Chortophaga viridifasciata

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Abstract
The O2 consumption of Chortophaga eggs measured at 38[degree]C in O2 averaged 78.8 + 3.3 mm3 O2/100 eggs/hour and increased 28% during a 4-hour period of respiratory determination. When measured at 38[degree]C in air, the rate of O2 consumption did not change during a 4-hour period. Winter embryos freed of yolk and placed in isotonic medium respired at a significantly lower rate than did spring and summer embryos treated in the same manner. The addition of glucose to the suspending medium had no effect on the respiration of embryos. Comparable rates were obtained with measurements of 40 embryos in Warburg flasks and of individual embryos in Gregg respiro-meters. X-ray doses of 10,000 r and above significantly reduced the O2 consumption of 14-day Chortophaga eggs in the 1st hour after treatment. Doses of 3500 r and above significantly reduced the respiration of embryos in the hour following irradiation. The reduction in respiration increased with larger doses of X-rays.