Presence of embryotoxic factor in the sera of neonates affected by myelomeningocele: a study on chick embryo.
An experimental study on chick embryos was conducted where 0.02 mL of serum, taken from five neonates (1 to 7 days of age) with myelomeningocele was injected separately into the fertile white leghorn eggs, at zero hour of incubation. A total of 150 experimental and 135 control eggs were injected. It was observed that the embryos of chick exposed to experimental serum had an increased frequency of embryonic death and/or gross abnormalities as compared with the control group (chi 2 = 32.07; P less than .001). The anomalies observed were those of neural tube, gastrointestinal system, and musculoskeletal system. In addition, there was a generalized growth retardation among experimental embryos. These malformations are probably due to an embryotoxic factor, which is present in the serum of the baby with myelomeningocele and has been transmitted transplacentally.
Rohatgi
M
M
Department of Pediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Chandna
S
S
Kumar
R
R
D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000097:blood*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000209:etiology*