title: Effects of N,N-dimethylformamide and its degradation products in zebrafish embryos.
abstract: The response of zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) embryos, cultured in reconstituted water, to continuous treatment with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or its degradation products until hatching, was investigated. The embryos were distinctly susceptible to DMF, N-(hydroxymethyl)-N-methylformamide (DMF-OH), N-methylformamide (NMF), N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine (AMCC), and formamide (FA). Concentrations of 18 (DMF-OH), 121 (DMF), 163 (AMCC), 186 (NMF) and 203 (FA) mmol/litre produced 50% embryo lethality (LC(50)). Only treatment with DMF, NMF or FA induced malformations, involving curvature of the spine and tail and reduction of heart size and action with decreased blood circulation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Maybachstrasse 14-16, D-68169 Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Groth
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kronauer
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Freundt