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Effects induced by keV low-energy ion irradiation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

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Abstract

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an excellent model organism with which to study the biological effects and mechanisms of ionizing irradiation. In this study, using C. elegans as a model, the effects of keV low-energy argon ion irradiation were investigated, by examining cuticle damage, worm survival, brood size, life span, and germ cell death. The surface etching of worm cuticle after ion impact was investigated by trypan blue staining and SEM microscopy. The degree of damage increased with ion fluence (2 × 1014 to 7 × 1014 ions cm−2) and energy (5–25 keV). The survival rates, as compared to vacuum control, of ion-bombarded worm larvae at different developmental stages (L1–L4) decreased with increasing ion fluence. L1 larvae were found to be more sensitive to ion bombardment than larvae at other stages. The mean brood size in ion-bombarded groups decreased with increasing ion fluence and energy. Furthermore, keV argon ions caused a significant increase in the number of apoptotic germ cells. However, average lifespan was not significantly affected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Ion Beam Bioengineering, Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 1126, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, People’s Republic of China

    Xuelan Liu, Kezhou Cai, Huiyun Feng, Hang Yuan, Lijun Wu, Yuejin Wu & Zengliang Yu

  2. Institute of Solid State Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, People’s Republic China

    Mingguang Kong

Authors
  1. Xuelan Liu
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  2. Kezhou Cai
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  3. Huiyun Feng
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  4. Hang Yuan
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  5. Mingguang Kong
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  6. Lijun Wu
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  7. Yuejin Wu
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  8. Zengliang Yu
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Correspondence to Zengliang Yu.

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Liu, X., Cai, K., Feng, H. et al. Effects induced by keV low-energy ion irradiation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans . Radiat Environ Biophys 46, 255–261 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-007-0103-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-007-0103-6

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