Syncitial embryos from cnn^E2/cnn^HK21 mothers show a lack of spindle pole localisation of centrosome associated antigens Cp190 and γTub23C in a variable manner, suggesting that the Microtubule Organising Centres are at least structurally and functionally impaired, or possibly missing altogether. Embryos from cnn^E2/cnn^HK21 mothers exhibit an abnormal and disorganised spatial arrangement of nuclei during syncitial divisions, becoming increasingly severe during later divisions. This leads to a cessation of development before formation of a cellular blastoderm. In contrast to wild-type, embryos from cnn^HK21 mothers show an unstructured cortical microfilament organisation during syncitial development. Syncitial embryos from cnn^E2/cnn^HK21 mothers, show abnormally shaped mitotic spindles that are characteristically squat with ill-defined poles. During interphase and prophase, a variable number (as opposed to strictly two in wild type) of spread out and less discrete astral microtubule-like structures are seen, despite having no γTub23C localising nucleating core.