Ultrasonic gas-body activation in Drosophila.

The role of gas bodies in the interaction of Drosophila eggs and larvae with ultrasonic fields has been studied (1) by direct microscopic examination, (2) by observation of gas body activation during sonation with a special microscope, (3) by direct measurement of the volume fraction of gas in eggs and (4) through the absorption of ultrasound. All approaches provide support for the postulate that these organisms contain a rich distribution of gas bodies which play a dominant role in the acoustic properties of eggs and are the most probable site of action for ultrasonic biological effects on these organisms.