Streptonigrin: effect on the first meiotic metaphase of the mouse egg.

Streptonigrin, an antibiotic and antitumor agent, alters the chromosomes of the mouse ovum during meiosis. Agglutination of bivalents or achromatic gaps and breaks occurred in the larger pairs both in vitro and in vivo. This newly detected cytogenetic effect suggests that such agents can gain access to developing mammalian ova and destroy the normal progress of meiosis.