Relationship between viability and genotoxic effect of gamma rays delivered at different dose rates in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

The role of dose rate (DR) on biological effects of ionizing radiation is an area of significant research focus, and relevant to environmental exposures. The present investigation was aimed to examine the direct relationship between viability and genotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster, induced by gamma rays, in a range of doses from 2 to 35 Gy administered at three different DR. Results indicated that larvae-adult viability was reduced in relation with dose but not DR. No marked differences were found in the LD50 produced by differing DR tested. Frequencies of somatic mutation and recombination increased in direct correlation with the dose and DR. Data demonstrate the importance of determination of the relationship between viability and genotoxicity induced by DR in in vivo systems for toxicological and radioprotection studies