Teratogenic effects of N-nitrosodiethylamine in embryos of the hermaphroditic fish Rivulus marmoratus.

Exposure of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) to hermaphroditic fish (Rivulus marmoratus) embryos induced specific congenital malformations when the chemical was applied to embryos on days 0-6 post morula stage. This sensitive period generally coincided with the known period of organogenesis in this species, and the incidence of anomalies was clearly dose related. These results indicate that NDEA is teratogenic to fish embryos.