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American Zoologist 1981 21(2):517-533; doi:10.1093/icb/21.2.517
© 1981 by The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
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Teratology and Early Fish Development1

HANS W. LAALE and W. LERNER
Department of Zoology, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T-2N2

SYNOPSIS. The developing teleost embryo is a highly complex and balanced physico-chemical system in equilibrium with its environment. Even slight alterations of the external aquatic environment, or a pathochemical modification of the immediate maternal environment, may lead to developmental modifications. Multiple malformations produced as a result of metabolism of teratogens and interacting factors are similar to syndromes obtained by hybridization. Modifying factors, although possessing some specificity as to intracellular targets are nonspecific as to the types of anomalies produced in most instances.

Embryonic responses to teratogens occur at various developmental stages and at different levels of organization, modifying the normal development. Intracellular molecular syntheses and sensitive metabolic targets essential for normal development may be blocked or modified, and rates of differentiation and growth affected. Embryo-sensitivity and resistance is related to tolerance level and regulatory capacity. The terata observed have been correlated with molecular mechanisms and disorganization with disruptions of cellular contacts and translocatory yolk cytoplasmic movements.

Causality as it pertains to early teleost aberrant development is reviewed, and suggestions for research and an extensive bibliography of the relevant literature provided.


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