Influence of Local X-ray Treatment on Development of Jaws in Young Axolotl (Siredon mexicanum)

Abstract

Lower or upper jaws of young axolotls (age 20 to 60 days) were locally irradiated with 2000-4000 r of X-radiation. Suppression of growth of treated jaws was observed in all cases. The irradiated jaw is a miniature copy of the normal jaw. Fifty-eight days after treatment, the retardation of growth of the treated jaws was most evident, and all remnants of teeth in them had disappeared. In the control (shielded) jaws of the same animals, the development of teeth proceeds normally. The mechanisms of tooth formation and tooth maintenance are permanently destroyed by X-ray irradiation.