Effects of serotonin and serotonin antagonists on chick embryogenesis

Serotonin and some selected substances known to interfere with its formation (diethyldithiocarbamate) and function (Catron^®, 5-methyltryptamine, promethazine) were tested for their ability to affect chick embryo morphogenesis during the first 48 h of development. To detect possible differences in sensitivity between the successive morphogenetic events taking place during this period, the treatment was begun at successively more advanced stages corresponding to embryo ages of between 4 and 30 h incubation. In all cases, the treatment was terminated at an embryo age of 48 h incubation. The treatment was performed both in ovo and in vitro.With some exceptions, the substances induced malformations of the same characteristic types. The developmental processes subjected to disturbances included blastoderm expansion, primitive streak formation, neurulation with brain formation, and somitogenesis. At the cellular level, the malformations can be traced to delayed yolk degradation, impaired formation and function of microvilli, and impaired ability of the embryo cells to change shape.All of the tested chemicals can be expected to interfere with intracellular levels of serotonin. They obviously interfered with decomposition of the yolk granules, recognized centres for intracellular serotonin formation and we therefore conclude that the observed morphogenetical disturbances are ultimately due to impairment of the endogenous serotonin formation. We suggest that, in morphogenesis, serotonin primarily promotes the activity of microtubules and microfilaments.