Changes in fertilization and early development of embryos exposed to electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

The authors have conducted the experiment on sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius to study effects from the electromagnetic radiation of extremely high frequencies on the fertilization and early development of embryos. Before being exposed to the electromagnetic radiation, a part of oocytes were incubated in cytoactive drugs (pentoxyl and prospidinum) in seawater. The infertile eggs appeared to be most sensitive to radiation. The pre-incubation of oocytes in pentoxyl of different concentration did not have any effect on the rate of fertilization and total number of fertilization membrane discharge abnormalities. The fertilization rate of oocytes incubated in the seawater containing prospidinum decreased 1.5-1.8 times and more, depending on the solution concentration. The protective effects of pentoxyl derived from pipiridine containing structural elements of nucleic acids appeared to arise from its activating effects on the nucleic-acid and protein metabolism.