Microincineration Studies: II. Localization of Ash-Yielding Substances during Meiosis and Its Possible Significance in X-Irradiation Phenomena

Abstract

Following fixation by the Altmann freezing-drying technique, pollen mother cells of Lilium longiflorum and Kniphofia sp. were incinerated at 550-600[degree]C for 2-3 hrs. Ash-yielding substances, though not detectable in karyolymph, were present in cytoplasm and cell walls and most abundant in chromatin. Chromosomes were delineated distinctly by their ash from prophase through anaphase. With regard to biological x-ray effects, this distribution of comparatively heavy elements may: (1) account in large measure for greater sensitivity of nuclei compared to cytoplasm; (2) give rise to wave-length effect at the absorption discontinuities and, hence, a method of identifying elements present; (3) affect size of "sensitive volume" associated with quantum hit theory of radiation injury.