Developmental Lesions in Amphibian Embryos Induced by Ultraviolet Irradiation of the Fertile Egg

Ultraviolet irradiation of the vegetal hemisphere of the fertilized frog egg prior to first cleavage resulted in alterations in neural morphogenesis. The sensitivity to UV irradiation dropped drastically at the point of 2/3 time lapse between fertilization and the appearance of the first cleavage furrow. Scannining electron micrographs revealed a decrease in size of the cells on the surface of the irradiated embryos. However, ectoderm exchange frafts indicated that the ectoderm of the irradiated embryo retains its capaciiy to form a completely normal neural morphology and epidermal surface. These facts were interpreted in terms of a decrease in the capacity for invagination during gastrulation, and subsequent primary embryonic induction.