Impact of paternal transmission of gamma radiation on reproduction, oogenesis, and spermatogenesis of the housefly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae)

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the impact of gamma radiation of Musca domestica males (resulted from irradiated pupae) crossed with unirradiated females on fecundity, egg hatchability, adult emergence, sex ratio, sterility, in addition to reproductive development at the level of oogenesis and spermatogenesis compared to unirradiated group.

Material and methods

The housefly, M. domestica pupae were exposed to three sublethal doses of 5, 10, and 15 Gy.

Results

Fecundity was severely reduced particularly in F2 (11.33 ± 1.528; 7.33 ± 1.115 eggs/♀) and F3 (9.0 ± 1.00; 4.67 ± 1.115 eggs/♀) for doses of 10 and 15 Gy, respectively, compared with (52.0 ± 1.4 eggs/♀) for the control. Data revealed latent dose- and generation-dependent reduction in egg hatchability. Hatchability percentages reduced from 93.59 for the control to 10.07 (F1), 8.09 (F2), and 8.34 (F3) when the highest radiation dose 15 Gy was applied. Irradiation induced paternal deleterious substerility effects. Irradiation with 15 Gy induced substerility that reached about 97.0% in F2 and F3 generations. A significant (P < 0.05) reduction of the mean numbers of adult emergence was remarkably detected in the F1, F2, and F3 generations. Applied gamma doses did not affect the male to female ratio in the Parental or F1 generations. However, the F2 and F3 generations did show changes to the sex ratio with males occurring more frequently than females. This trend became more pronounced as dose increased. Ultrastructural examinations exhibited unusual damage and malformation either for males or female reproductive organs.

Conclusion

The obtained results clearly show that gamma radiation of M. domestica irradiated as pupae induced considerably visible impact on tested biological aspects and reproductive potential.

Keywords:

• Musca domestica
• SIT
• ultrastructure
• reproductive potential

Acknowledgments

I acknowledge Dr. Ahlam Gabarty at NCRRT, for her dedicated assistance during the irradiation process. I also thank Ass. Prof. Al-Baraa El-Saied at Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University for his help and assistance with statistical analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ahmed I. Hasaballah

Ahmed I. Hasaballah, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Medical Entomology at the Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. He works on topics in entomology, vector control and transmission of Insect-Borne Diseases.