The effect of high hydrostatic pressure on sea urchin embryonic development was investigated in Paracentrotus lividus with the aim of analyzing cell division and morphogenetic movements. At all stages the morphogenesis of the embryos developing in pressurized chambers (at 250—300 atm.) appeared to be more or less hindered. The least affected morphogenetic process was gastrulation, which could be accomplished although the size of archenteric cavity appeared to be reduced; the most severe disturbances were apparent in cleaving eggs in which cleavage underwent complete block; accordingly the step from morula to blastula appeared highly abnormal because of the inhibited formation of the blastocoelic cavity.
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Con il contributo del Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali