Adenosine triphosphate: protection against radiation-indued chromosome loss in Drosophila.

Injection of 5 milligrams of adenosine triphosphate per milliliter into adult Drosophila melanogaster X(e2) yB/sc(8) y(+) 4 to 8 hours old either immediately before or after administration of 2000 roentgens of x-rays protected those cells in spermatogenesis which were in or near meiosis from the loss of the ring X or the y(+) portion of Y chromosome. The loss of the chromosomes was determined by appearance of exceptional XO males in the offspring.