Experimental Induction ofTumor-like Lesions

During the course of some investigations of ex perimental lathyrism in salamanders, we noted and reported that, if the eggs of the salamander Ambysioma punctatum were placed in solutions of the lathyrism factor, the larval forms exhibited tumors of the notochord (2) . Since that time, no reports have appeared concerning the production of experimental ehordomas in other animals. In our original research we used a crystalline factor extracted from the sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus. Since then the chemical fi-aminoproprionitrile and other nitriles have been shown to be active lathyr ogenic agents. These chemicals were also active tumorigenic substances for the notoehord of de veloping salamanders and other amphibians (1). We wondered whether they would induce similar growths in fish.