Inhibiting Effects of Myrmicacin and Homologous Compounds on Cleavage of Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus Eggs

Abstract

Carboxylic acids containing 7 carbons or more such as enanthic, caprylic, pelargonic and β-hydroxydecanoic acids inhibited cleavage of Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus eggs at a concentration of 200 ppm. Decan-3-ol, in which the carboxyl group is replaced with the methyl group, had no inhibiting effect. β-hydroxydecanoic acid (myrmicacin) had a strong inhibiting effect that was almost completely reversed by transfer of the eggs to a medium lacking the acid after a limited period of exposure. © 1979, Japan Society for Cell Biology. All rights reserved.