EFFECTS OF AGING UPON GERM CELLS AND UPON EARLY DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Aging eggs show progressive measurable morphologic and physiologic changes. Besides those described in Study II., there are a number particularly evident in later stages of aging eggs, such as agglutination and fusion of eggs, irregular cleavage, separation of the blastomeres and cytolysis.A. 1. The agglutination phenomenon occurred only in physiologically very deteriorated or "aged" eggs, as evidenced in part by the low per cent. of the jelly layer, inability to develop a fertilization membrane, a more viscous condition of the cytoplasm and cortical layer, and by numerous other tests. These are exactly the conditions that have been sought in the experimental agglutination of eggs.2. The onset of agglutination occurred at different ages for the eggs of different females, such variations being due to differences in physiologic condition of the eggs at the time of liberation from the parent. The more deteriorated the eggs at liberation the earlier the agglutination, and vice versa. Agglutination occurred in...