title: Evidence for an adrenergic mechanism in the control of body asymmetry.
abstract: The effect of phenylephrine, an alpha-1 adrenergic agonist, on development of body asymmetry was studied using a rat whole embryo culture system. Embryos were explanted at the presomite stage, cultured in 100% rat serum containing various concentrations of phenylephrine, and examined at the 20-25 somite stage for sidedness of asymmetric body structures, namely, bulboventricular loop, allantoic placenta, and tail. Phenylephrine treatment resulted in a dose-dependent increase of situs inversus with a maximum incidence of 52%. Coadministration of prazosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist, almost completely prevented this effect. Our results suggest that receptor-mediated stimulation of the alpha-1 adrenergic pathway is involved in the control of normal body asymmetry in developing rat embryos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujinaga
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Baden
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000818:Animals; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012857:Situs Inversus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D010656:Phenylephrine; D011224:Prazosin