The Effects on Foetal Development of Freezing Pregnant Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

• Main Author: Smith, A. U.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Company of Biologists 1957
• Subjects: Articles; Arctic
• Online Access: http://dev.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/5/4/311

It has been known for many years that chilling at sensitive stages of embryonic or larval life profoundly affects the development of cold-blooded animals. For instance, the wing pattern of butterflies can be changed by cooling their pupae; the central European tortoiseshell, Vanessa urticae , treated in this way emerges in a form closely resembling the arctic species V. polaris. Drosophila and other insects cooled as larvae show bizarre characteristics, while sea-urchin and fish cooled as early embryos develop into monstrosities. Similar aberrations occur naturally as a result of genetic mutations and can be produced experimentally in these animals by X-rays and other physical and chemical agents applied at critical periods of development (see Ford, 1945; Goldschmidt, 1938). X-rays administered at critical stages in pregnancy may induce embryonic death or foetal deformities in mammals. Some of the monstrosities are resorbed, aborted, or stillborn; others survive birth (Russell, 1950, 1956; Russell & Russell, 1954 a , b Wilson, 1954).