3-acetylpyridine: effects in vitro related to teratogenic activity in chicken embryos.

Production of skeletal muscle hypoplasia by 3-acetylpyridine and its complete reversal by nicotinamide in developing chicken embryos have been confirmed. Cultures of developing embryonic chicken muscle show degenerative effects produced by 3-acetylpyridine; these effects are reversed by nicotinamide. Cartilage production in cultured chondrogenic cells is potentiated by 3-acetylpyridine; this potentiation is completely reversed by nicotinamide. It is suggested that nicotinamide-or pyridine-nucleotide-dependent reactions influence normal differentiation of limb mesoderm cells by inhibiting chondrogenic-cell and potentiating muscle-cell expression or proliferation.