Heavy metal effects on cellular shape changes, cleavage, and larval development of the marine gastropod mollusk, (Ilyanassa obsoleta Say)

Recent data, with inorganic and organic Ca super(2+) antagonists, suggest that both polar lobe formation and cytokinesis utilize Ca super(2+) released from sequestered intracellular sites. Both of the cellular constrictions are associated with microfilaments and are preceded by activation steps requiring microtubules. The data presented suggest that several heavy metals affect the microfilament-dependent steps. The concentrations of seven metal salts that stopped polar lobe constrictions, stopped cleavage furrows, caused abnormal later cleavage, or caused abnormal veliger development.