ABSTRACT
Experiments on Japanese quail embryogenesis on a background of chronic exposure to gamma- and neutron doses comparable with the doses of ionized radiation inside the orbital space stations Mir and ISS, and exploration vehicles gave evidence that permanent absorption of low gamma-doses (0,15 cgy/d) did not impact development of the Japanese quail embryos. On the contrary, the neutron dose of 200 microgy/d imparted by the neutron flux of 30 particles/cm2s was hazardous to embryos as it caused morphological disorders in 12% of embryos.
Subject(s)
Coturnix/embryology , Embryonic Development/radiation effects , Radiation Injuries, Experimental/embryology , Animals , Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Radiation, Ionizing , Space Flight , Time FactorsABSTRACT
This work is a part of comprehensive research into the effects of space flight on Japanese quail ontogenesis. Analysis of eye morphogenesis in the embryonic Japanese quails developed in microgravity discovered considerable deviations and abnormalities. Ocular abnormalities in the embryonic quail were mainly micro-ophthalmic and associated with disproportional growth of the pigmental epithelium and neural retina which resulted in plication and a broken sandwich structure of the retina.
Subject(s)
Eye/embryology , Space Flight , Weightlessness , Animals , Coturnix , Retina/abnormalities , Retina/embryologyABSTRACT
The present study is a part of a more comprehensive investigation of the spaceflight effects on ontogenesis of the Japanese quail. Reported are data about the effects of a 33-day immobilization on behavior, physiology and the reproductive function of these birds. As was revealed in the experiment, immobilization reduces the mass of the quail body and leads to a number of reversible disorders in the reproductive function including a sharp decrease in oviposition in females and disturbances in spermatogenesis in males.
