The development and physiology of the hatching mechanism were examined in Fundulus heteroclitus . Histological examination of the hatching glands revealed that they first became differentiated on or about day 5 of development. By day 7 the glands took on a granular appearance which was correlated with the first appearance of chorionase. From day 7 to day 10, growth of the glands and their increase in chorionase content were exponential. Cell size and chorionase activity peaked on day 10 and thereafter remained constant until hatching. The effects of several drugs were tested for their effects on hatching. Epinephrine and low concentrations of MS‐222, in conjunction with low oxygen concentration, were found to advance the median hatching date of eggs (HD 50 ). Turbocurarine, high concentrations of MS‐222, and atropine inhibited hatching completely, as did transection of the hind brain. On the basis of these experiments we have hypothesized that a respiratory stress response is linked to chorionase release during normal hatching.
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DiMichele et al. (1981) studied this question.
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