The effects in the chicken embryo assay of four Alternaria metabolites (alternariol [AOH], alternariol methyl ether [AME], altenuene [ALT], and tenuazonic acid [TA]) were investigated. Administered to 7-day-old chicken embryos by yolk sac injection, AOH, AME, and ALT caused no mortality or teratogenic effect at doses up to 1,000, 500, and 1,000 micrograms per egg, respectively. TA exhibited a c...

The development of effective methods for prevention of embryo disorders and congenital defects appears to be one of the cardinal tasks of modern medicine. The development of man and the health of future generations depends upon a successful solution to this complex problem. The etiology of congenital defects in humans is multifactored since they occur as a result of the injurious effect of envi...

In normal development, each gene correctly expresses under temporal and spatial regulation. Teratogenic agents among environmental contaminants induce aberrated gene expression and consequently lead to congenital malformations. Therefore, it is urgent to identify molecular markers for the detection of teratogenic agents' effects.We analyzed mouse 39 hox gene expression in teratogenic factor exp...

Sodium arsenate induces developmental malformations in a variety of experimental animals. In the golden hamster, the intravenous (or intraperitoneal) administration of 20 mg/kg of sodium arsenate during day 8 to 9 of gestation induces a rather specific spectrum of congenital malformations. This period corresponds to the period of very rapid differentiation and major organogenesis in this animal...

We read with great interest the manuscript by Chan et al. (2003) examining the teratogenicity of hydrosalpinx ¯uid (HF) using a whole rate embryo culture model. Mechanisms of HF formation and its effects on IVF and embryo transfer outcome have been recently reviewed (Ajonuma et al., 2002). Previous studies were conducted during early embryo development when HF that re¯uxed into the uterine cavi...