title: Effects of sodium azide on sea urchin embryos and gametes.
abstract: Sodium azide (SA) was tested on sea urchin embryos and gametes (Paracentrotus lividus). Developing embryos were exposed to SA (10(-6) to 10(-3) M) up to pluteus larval stage, or for shorter intervals before or after hatching. Developmental defects in SA-exposed embryos consisted mainly of gut abnormalities, without any detectable differences between pre- or post-hatch-exposed embryos. SA-induced damage to gut was exerted during gastrulation, as evident by lectin binding of extracellular matrix. No mitotic damage was observed in SA-exposed embryos, nor could pH-related variations be detected in SA-induced embryotoxicity at pH's ranging from 8 to 6. Concurrently, no effect ensued in the exposure of unfertilized eggs to SA (10(-5) to 10(-2) M) both in terms of fertilization success and of offspring quality. When sperm were suspended in filtered seawater at pH's ranging from 8 to 6, and SA levels ranging from 10(-5) to 10(-2) M, fertilization success of SA-exposed sperm appeared to be modulated by pH, by displaying three distinct dose-response trends at pH 8, 7, or 6. The consequences of sperm pretreatment on offspring quality failed to show any significant SA-induced changes on larval malformations or mortality, while confirming the previously reported pH-induced increase of developmental defects in the offspring of acid-exposed sperm (Pagano et al.: Teratogenesis Carcinogen Mutagen 5:113-121, 1985).
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pagano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cipollaro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corsale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mineo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ragucci
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Trieff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001386:Azides / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007422:Intestines / Q000196:embryology; D008297:Male; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects*; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000196:embryology*; D019810:Sodium Azide; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001386:Azides; D019810:Sodium Azide