[Effects of concanavalin A on neural induction in the young gastrula of the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum Shaw. ) and pleurodele (Pleurodeles waltlii Michah.)].

Presumptive ectoderm from young gastrulae of the Pleurodele and the Axolotl was treated with concanavalin A(5-25 micrograms/ml). Then, it was combined, in a sandwich, with the dorsal lip of the blastopore and cultured in vitro for 5-7 days. The results of the experiments show that the treated ectoderm becomes more fragile than untreated control ectoderm. Nevertheless, the neural induction and the histological differentiation of the neural tissue appeared in a rather normal fashion.