Observation of morphological abnormalities in silkworm pupae after feeding 137CsCl-supplemented diet to evaluate the effects of low dose-rate exposure

Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 29;10(1):16055. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-72882-y.

Abstract

Since the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, morphological abnormalities in lepidopteran insects, such as shrinkage and/or aberration of wings, have been reported. Butterflies experimentally exposed to radiocesium also show such abnormalities. However, because of a lack of data on absorbed dose and dose-effect relationship, it is unclear whether these abnormalities are caused directly by radiation. We conducted a low dose-rate exposure experiment in silkworms reared from egg to fully developed larvae on a 137CsCl-supplemented artificial diet and estimated the absorbed dose to evaluate morphological abnormalities in pupal wings. We used 137CsCl at 1.3 × 103 Bq/g fresh weight to simulate 137Cs contamination around the FDNPP. Absorbed doses were estimated using a glass rod dosimeter and Monte Carlo particle transport simulation code PHITS. Average external absorbed doses were approximately 0.24 (on diet) and 0.016 mGy/day (near diet); the average internal absorbed dose was approximately 0.82 mGy/day. Pupal wing structure is sensitive to radiation exposure. However, no significant differences were observed in the wing-to-whole body ratio of pupae between the 137CsCl-exposure and control groups. These results suggest that silkworms are insensitive to low dose-rate exposure due to chronic ingestion of high 137Cs at a high concentration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bombyx / metabolism*
  • Butterflies
  • Cesium / metabolism
  • Cesium Radioisotopes / adverse effects*
  • Cesium Radioisotopes / metabolism
  • Chlorides / metabolism
  • Diet
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Fukushima Nuclear Accident
  • Insecta
  • Japan
  • Nuclear Power Plants
  • Pupa / metabolism
  • Radiation Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Radiation Monitoring / methods
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis

Substances

  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Chlorides
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Cesium
  • Cesium-137
  • cesium chloride