[Embryotoxic and teratogenic action of the organomercury fungicide falizan on chick embryos].

Tested was the embryotoxic and teratogenic action of the organomercurial preparation falizan (a phenyl-mercury acetate), containing 2 per cent mercury, in chick embryos. It was introduced into the viteline sac of 3-day-old embryos in the form of a water solution as follows: Group I--0.1 cm3 per egg of a 13 per cent solution of falizan (= 260 micrograms Hg); group II--0.1 cm3 per egg of a 6.5 per cent solution (= 130 micrograms Hg); group III--0.1 cm3 per egg of redistilled water (biologic control); and group IV--the eggs were left untreated (negative control). The amount of the preparation was adjusted to eggs of 65 + 1 g weight. The optimal growth and development of the embryos was guaranteed with the use of an Optima hatching unit, providing humidity of up to 65 per cent = 89 F. The embryotoxic and teratogenic effect of the preparation was recorded on the 14th and the 20th day of incubation. A dose of 260 micrograms Hg was found to be strongly toxic, mortality rate reaching up to 48 per cent from the 7th to the 14th day. Teratogenically, there were no malformations in the test groups both on the 14th and the 20th day of embryogenesis.