Cytogenetic and other effects of the chemosterilants tepa, metepa, apholate an hempa in insects (a review)

Abstract

A review of the literature revealed that the chemosterilants tepa (tris(1-aziridinyl)phosphine oxide), metepa (tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl) phosphineoxide), apholate (2,2,4,4,6,6-hexakis(1-aziridinyl)-2,2,4,4,6,6-hexahydro-1,3,5,2,4,6-triazatriphosphorine), and hempa (hexamethylmelamine) affected both reproductive and somatic tissues in over 65 species of insects. The effects were cytological, physiological, and genetic and varied from slight to severe. In some cases the deleterious effects may have been species-specific, but in general, they appeared to be dose-dependent. More than 150 publications are cited.