The Effect of X-Irradiation of the Oviduct on Egg Production and Egg Quality in the Fowl

IONIZING radiations have long been known to affect biological systems, and a great many radiation effects have been described (Duggar, 1936; Hollaender, 1954). Biological processes are generally inhibited by ionizing radiations, except at low levels, and the biological response to the irradiations is proportional to the dose (i.e., the quantity of radiant energy absorbed by the tissue or organism). Although the mechanism of action of ionizing radiations is not completely understood, they can be used to great advantage in the study of biological processes. Functional alteration of tissues, resulting from irradiation, may be used to interpret the normal process of the tissue. In a study of the physiological processes that lead to the formation of the egg shell and albumen, the surgically exposed oviduct was irradiated with graded doses of X-rays, and the nature of the post-irradiation eggs determined. This procedure resulted in some changes of egg production rate and …