Invagination can also be disrupted by perturbing the basal lamina. Treating embryos with the lathrytic agent, b-aminoproprionitrile, results in failure of the chemical crosslinking reactions that normally occur between collagen molecules in the basal ECM. When the drug is applied during primary invagination, the result is a "kinky" archenteron with mesenchyme that have impaired motility.
(adapted from Butler et al., 1987, with permission)