Induction of triploid and gynogenetic diploid axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) by hydrostatic pressure

Hydrostatic pressure of 10,000 psi, applied 60 minutes from oviposition, for eight minutes, was used to suppress the formation of the second polar body in fertilized axolotl eggs. When this procedure was used on naturally fertilized eggs, triploid axolotls were produced with 97% efficiency. Artificial insemination with ultraviolet irradiation inactivated sperm in combination with this procedure yielded gynogenetic diploids with 92% efficiency. Survival was variable in both sets of experiments and ranged from 64% to 72%.