Embryotoxicity of industrial chemicals on the chicken embryo: thiourea derivatives.

Six thioureas: 1,3-diphenylthiourea (DPTU), 1,3-dibutylthiourea (DBTU), tetramethylthiourea (TEMTU), trimethylthiourea (TRIMTU), 1,3-diethylthiourea (DETU), and 1,3-ethylenethiourea (ETU), were tested, in addition to carbon disulfide, on three day chicken embryos for embryotoxicity. The parameters measured were early deaths, recorded within two days of injection, late deaths of malformed embryos, late deaths of non-malformed embryos, and malformed survivors. The order of total embryotoxicity decreased as follows DBTU greater than DPTU greater than TEMTU greater than TRIMTU greater than DETU greater than ETU. The range for ED50 values for total embryotoxicity was from 0.28 (DBTU) to 4.5 (ETU) mumol/egg. DBTU caused early deaths but no malformations. TEMTU and DPTU were the most potent teratogens.