Embryos derived from homozygous Xpd^SH2137 females expressing Xpd^{Scer\UAS.T:SV5\V5} under the control of Scer\GAL4^αTub84B.PL do not hatch into larvae. 38.7% of the embryos show nuclear division defects during the nuclear division cycles. The nuclear division defects can be restricted to a small part of the embryo or may affect larger regions. The defective nuclei fail to segregate their chromatin properly and show nuclear fusions and chromatin bridges (these can be seen in interphase, late anaphase or telophase). Mitotic figures are seen in which chromosome segregation has failed to occur properly by telophase. Some of the mutant embryos have chromatin-free regions containing free centrosomes (suggesting that improperly divided nuclei have fallen into the interior of the embryo during previous cycles). Some of these extra centrosomes are seen associated with nearby nuclei. The synchronization of late syncytial division cycles is also often lost in these embryos.

Nuclear cycles 12 and 13 usually take much longer than normal in embryos derived from homozygous Xpd^SH2137 females expressing Xpd^{Scer\UAS.T:SV5\V5} under the control of Scer\GAL4^αTub84B.PL. Delays of 50-100% are often seen at the anterior end of the embryo, while the delays at the posterior end can be much longer. The mitotic wave from the anterior pole often proceeds almost or entirely to the posterior end before the posterior mitotic wave is initiated (in contrast to wild type).

Embryos derived from homozygous Xpd^SH2137 females expressing Xpd^{Scer\UAS.T:SV5\V5} under the control of Scer\GAL4^αTub84B.PL have a highly elevated frequency of mitotic spindles that branch out into neighbouring mitotic figures, with microtubules from one spindle "reaching over" to the neighbouring mitotic figure and appearing to attach to a chromosome.