title: Novel approach to evaluate the interaction of pulsed ultrasound with embryonic development.
abstract: An in vitro whole-embryo culture system was used which allowed ultrasound to interact directly with rat embryos, at 9.5 days of gestation, under conditions of controlled temperature. Neural plate damage, expressed during a critical period of forebrain development, was evaluated 48 h post-insonation. Ultrasound-induced effects were thus identified in the absence of significant temperature changes or complications from the influence of maternal physiology. Exposures to 3.2 microseconds pulses of 3.14 MHz ultrasound at a PRF of 2 kHz and 1.2 W cm-2 intensity (ISPTA) for durations of 5, 15 or 30 min produced no major morphological abnormalities at a temperature of 38.5 degrees C. Embryonic response to stress was evidenced by changes in protein synthesis, and delayed development was indicated by a reduction in somite number. These effects were enhanced when the insonation temperature was elevated by 1.5 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Ultrasonics Institute, Chatswood, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Angles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins