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Diazepam induces abnormal mitosis in the early Drosophila embryo
Author(s) -
Callaini Giuliano,
Dallai Romano,
Riparbell Maria Giovanna
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1111/j.1768-322x.1989.tb00877.x
Subject(s) - biology , embryo , mitosis , drosophila (subgenus) , diazepam , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , pharmacology , gene
Drosophila embryos, because of their high proportion of dividing nuclei, offer many advantages for the study of the mitotic cycle. In the present study we combined immunofluorescence with interference contrast techniques to follow centrosome and spindle behavior in embryos exposed to diazepam during the first stages of development. Exposure to 100 μg/ml of diazepam produced polyploid and aneuploid figures resulting from the unusual fusion of one or more adjacent spindles. Diazepam also causes the inhibition of centrosome shifting and induces the formation of monopolar spindles during the metaphase‐anaphase transition.