Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Radiation tolerance in the eutardigrade Richtersius coronifer

Jönsson, Ingemar LU ; Harms-Ringdahl, M and Torudd, J (2005) In International Journal of Radiation Biology 81(9). p.649-656
Abstract
Purpose: Tardigrades have a reputation of being extremely tolerant to extreme environmental conditions including tolerance to ionizing radiation while in a desiccated, anhydrobiotic state. However, the evidence for radio-tolerance in tardigrades is based on only one previous report, and there is an obvious need for complementary studies. In this paper we report an investigation on radio-tolerance in desiccated and hydrated specimens of the eutardigrade Richtersius coronifer . Materials and methods: Groups of 30 – 50 tardigrades were exposed to γ-radiation at doses between 1.0 – 9.0 (anhydrobiotic animals) or 0.5 – 5.0 (hydrated animals) kGy and the animals were followed until all were dead. Radiation tolerance of both desiccated and... (More)
Purpose: Tardigrades have a reputation of being extremely tolerant to extreme environmental conditions including tolerance to ionizing radiation while in a desiccated, anhydrobiotic state. However, the evidence for radio-tolerance in tardigrades is based on only one previous report, and there is an obvious need for complementary studies. In this paper we report an investigation on radio-tolerance in desiccated and hydrated specimens of the eutardigrade Richtersius coronifer . Materials and methods: Groups of 30 – 50 tardigrades were exposed to γ-radiation at doses between 1.0 – 9.0 (anhydrobiotic animals) or 0.5 – 5.0 (hydrated animals) kGy and the animals were followed until all were dead. Radiation tolerance of both desiccated and hydrated tardigrades was studied. Results: Both desiccated and hydrated animals irradiated with 0.5 and 1 kGy did not deviate in survival from the control groups. Animals from all exposed groups underwent their moulting and egg production cycle, but at decreasing frequency for doses above 1 kGy. No eggs laid by irradiated animals hatched, while eggs laid by controls did so. Conclusion: Our study suggests that radiation tolerance in tardigrades is not due to biochemical protectants connected with the desiccated state. Rather, cryptobiotic tardigrades may rely on efficient mechanisms of DNA repair, the nature of which is currently unknown. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
International Journal of Radiation Biology
volume
81
issue
9
pages
649 - 656
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000234073800002
  • pmid:16368643
  • scopus:31644446304
  • pmid:16368643
ISSN
0955-3002
DOI
10.1080/09553000500368453
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Theoretical ecology (Closed 2011) (011006011)
id
22ebbe64-2d05-49a4-bf5e-01e1959e4e39 (old id 155557)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:13:01
date last changed
2022-04-13 07:49:18
@article{22ebbe64-2d05-49a4-bf5e-01e1959e4e39,
  abstract     = {{Purpose: Tardigrades have a reputation of being extremely tolerant to extreme environmental conditions including tolerance to ionizing radiation while in a desiccated, anhydrobiotic state. However, the evidence for radio-tolerance in tardigrades is based on only one previous report, and there is an obvious need for complementary studies. In this paper we report an investigation on radio-tolerance in desiccated and hydrated specimens of the eutardigrade Richtersius coronifer . Materials and methods: Groups of 30 – 50 tardigrades were exposed to γ-radiation at doses between 1.0 – 9.0 (anhydrobiotic animals) or 0.5 – 5.0 (hydrated animals) kGy and the animals were followed until all were dead. Radiation tolerance of both desiccated and hydrated tardigrades was studied. Results: Both desiccated and hydrated animals irradiated with 0.5 and 1 kGy did not deviate in survival from the control groups. Animals from all exposed groups underwent their moulting and egg production cycle, but at decreasing frequency for doses above 1 kGy. No eggs laid by irradiated animals hatched, while eggs laid by controls did so. Conclusion: Our study suggests that radiation tolerance in tardigrades is not due to biochemical protectants connected with the desiccated state. Rather, cryptobiotic tardigrades may rely on efficient mechanisms of DNA repair, the nature of which is currently unknown.}},
  author       = {{Jönsson, Ingemar and Harms-Ringdahl, M and Torudd, J}},
  issn         = {{0955-3002}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{649--656}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Radiation Biology}},
  title        = {{Radiation tolerance in the eutardigrade Richtersius coronifer}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09553000500368453}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09553000500368453}},
  volume       = {{81}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}