Toxic effects of cyclophosphamide and methylnitrosourea in Japanese quail embryos depend on the route of administration.
We studied the toxic effects of cyclophosphamide and methyl-N-nitrosourea in cultured quail embryos when injected into the albumen and the subembryonic liquid, respectively. The data indicate that both agents display a greater toxicity when given into the subembryonic liquid instead of the albumen. This differential toxicity was demonstrated by means of the survival rate, developmental parameters like growth rate and developmental stages, and excreted nucleosides and uric acid. It is reasonable to assume that the lesser toxicity in the albumen is mainly due to the lower concentration reaching the embryo after the dilution of the agent in this compartment. On the basis of the results obtained in these experiments, the cultured avian embryo represents an especially suitable experimental system to study the changes in metabolism induced by toxic agents. This is due to the easy access to the subembryonic compartment and the easy sampling of allantoic liquid under these conditions.
Kaltner
H
H
Institute of Physiological Chemistry, and Nutrition Physiology, Veterinary Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany.
Zickert
D
D
Hellmann
R
R
Wittmann
J
J
D000482:Allantois / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003370:Coturnix / Q000196:embryology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D008770:Methylnitrosourea / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000378:metabolism
D009705:Nucleosides; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D003520:Cyclophosphamide