Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effects of a low dose preirradiation on radiation-induced lethality in Caenorhabditis elegans. C.elegans were maintained at 20°C on solid nematode growth medium (NGM) with Escherichia Coli OP50 for food. Wild-type N2 Bristol strain was used in this experiment. As a preirradiation, synchronous L4 stage larvae or young adults were irradiated with 5 Gy γ-rays. After 18-24 hours incubation, animals were irradiated with lethal dose (75 Gy) γ-rays, and they were transferred to fresh NGM plates. Adults were removed 3 hours after 75 Gy γ-ray irradiation and then the subsequent survivals of laying eggs were counted for 3 days. In some case, the survival ratio in a preirradiated group was higher than that in a single irradiated group. Growth was strongly suppressed in all experimental groups.
