Studies on the effect of monoamine antagonists on the morphogenesis of the newt

The effects of three monoamine antagonists, p-chlorophenylalanine, diethyldithiocarbamate and propranolol on the morphogenesis of newt embryos were studied. Antagonists were administered during late blastula through neurula stages. In a concentration of 1 mM, all three arrested gastrulation and caused disintegration of the embryos. Lower concentrations (0.1-0.5 mM) retarded morphogenetic movements in the gastrulation and caused malformations especially in the anterior parts of the embryos; pigmentation was delayed by 1 or 2 days. In addition, p-CIPhe inhibited yolk granule degradation in the notochord and DEDTC caused notochordal hypertrophy. The results show that interference with synthesis or action of catecholamines and serotonin affects morphogenesis. With the methods used it is not possible to discover exactly how monoamines regulate the morphogenetic events because of the unspecific side effects of the antagonists and the feedback interactions between the monoamines.