Hyperthermia increases chromosome breakage and loss induced by fission neutrons in Drosophila melanogaster.

Pretreatment with hyperthermia did significantly increase the breakage and chromosome loss induced by 0.85-MeV fission neutrons from the JANUS biological research reactor in spermatozoa, early and late spermatids and spermatocytes. Radiation-induced breakage of chromosomes was also enhanced by hyperthermia in early spermatogonia.