Teratogenic effects of cadmium acetate and sulphate upon development of the chick embryo.

The influence of cadmium acetate and sulphate on 42-hour-old chick embryos was studied. In all series, 1 microliters of a 0.01% solution was directly deposited on the blastoderm in ovo. Strophosomy was the most spectacular abnormality. It developed at acid pH. In some cases, strophosomy was exaggerated and led to anterior symmelia. Coelosomy was the most important anomaly caused by cadmium sulphate. With a buffered CdSO4 solution its rate was lower while it was absent when a buffered cadmium acetate solution was used. Solutions of alkaline pH did not elicit other abnormalities either and under their effect the percentage of normal embryos increased. It is concluded that these cadmium salts had a coelosomic effect completed by a strophosomic one under acid pH conditions. Phosphate buffer was able to reduce or to neutralize these effects.