Abstract
Summary
The evidence presented indicates that β-aminopropionitrile is the teratogenic agent of the seeds of Lathyrus odoratus. It produces dislocation of joints and loosening of intersegmental septa in amphibians, and bending of the femurs in chick embryos. The minimal teratogenic concentration for Xenopus larvae is .5 μ/liter, the minimal dose for chick embryos is .1 μ per egg. The effects are highly tissue specific but not species specific. The available evidence suggests that a single morphogenic process is interfered with by the presence of this compound during differentiation.
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