Expression of TEM-induced damage to postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis of the mouse during early embryogenesis. I. Investigations with in vitro embryo culture.

After treatment of postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis of the mouse with TEM, dose and stage of spermatogenesis-dependent disturbances of the early embryonic development can be observed both in vivo and after in vitro culture of the embryos. The observations in both systems can be correlated. The embryo-culture system thereby enables analysis of the expression of mutagen-induced damage more accurately than the in vivo dominant lethal test. With the doses used (0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg) TEM-treatment of the fathers did not affect the rate of fertilized and cleaving eggs during the first three weeks post-treatment but severely disturbed the further development of the embryos at all stages up to implantation, exhibiting a maximum effect on morulae.