Stage-specific effects of teratogens on sea urchin embryogenesis

The effect of direct (chlorambucil and allopurinol) and indirect (cyclophosphamide) teratogens on the fertilization and early development of sea urchin embryos has been investigated. Fertilization was affected by none of the drugs tested. Continuous exposure of embryos to chlorambucil (10(-6) to 3 x 10(-4) M) starting after fertilization delayed the first cleavage and hatching. Developmental defects in chlorambucil-treated embryos consisted mainly of blastula and gastrula-arrested embryos and in a limited number (25%) of plutei with malformed gut or skeleton. Post-hatching exposure to chlorambucil led to malformed plutei only. Early (pre-hatching) exposure to allopurinol (10(-6) to 10(-3) M) did not affect cleavage but induced developmental defects in a ratio comparable to chlorambucil. Post-hatching exposure to allopurinol failed to affect the embryogenesis. The indirect teratogen cyclophosphamide (10(-6) to 3 x 10(-5) M) had no effect on the early embryogenesis. Results were discussed in view of using sea urchin embryos to detect and analyze the early mechanisms of teratogenic action.