Abstract
Fundulus eggs covered for 10 minutes with sea water and 5 cc. of follicular extract, F1, 0.13; F2, 0.0026; F3, 0.00086; F4, 0.00043 units per cc. were removed from the solution and fertilized. In each of the first 3 concentrations 85 eggs were used both in the experimental lots and in the controls with the following results:
Of the 80 eggs exposed to F4 follicular extract 57 were fertilized, while the controls yielded 72 fertilized. Of a total of 335 eggs treated with the follicular extract 180 or 53% were fertilized; of 335 controls, 296 or 88%.
Fertilized eggs were placed for 10 minutes in sea water containing 5 cc. F1 follicular extract and then removed to different salt solutions and the time required for the eggs to sink was noted, with the following results:
On the second day after fertilization 30 eggs were injected for 6 consecutive days with 0.01 cc. F3 follicular extract and the following changes in the embryo were observed: (a) abnormally dark pigment cells, (b) anastomosis of these cells and streaming of the pigment granules, (c) defective lens in one or both eyes, (d) diminutive forebrain. Practically the same abnormalities appeared in the embryos exposed to 5 cc. of F3 follicular extract placed in the sea water.
Thirty beating hearts stopped within an hour by 0.5 KCl were placed in sea water and 10 cc. Follicular extract; within 5 hours they recovered and the controls likewise began to beat in the same length of time. Thirty beating hearts placed in sea water and 10 cc. Fl follicular extract were then exposed to the KCl and within 55 minutes they had all stopped beating, while the controls ceased to beat within 58 minutes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.