Effects of heavy metals on development of the killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus

When F. heteroclitus embryos were exposed to inorganic mercury at concentrations of 0.03 or 0.1 mg/1 at the early blastula stage, the percentage of successful axis formation was reduced and a significant proportion of embryos developed cyclopia or intermediate conditions leading to cyclopia. Treatment at the late blastula stage reduced the severity of the defects. Embryos which developed in lead at concentrations of 1 and 10 mg/1 were normal in appearance until hatching, at which time they exhibited lordosis or were unable to uncurl from the position they had while still inside the chorion. No significant effects of cadmium at concentrations up to 10 mg/1 were noted.