title: Effects of momorcharins on the mouse embryo at the early organogenesis stage.
abstract: Previous studies showed that the two forms of momorcharins which are isolated from seeds of Momordica charantia L. are effective in inducing early and midterm abortions in the mouse. Momorcharins were found to be teratogenic to the cultured mouse embryos at the early organogenesis stage. Morphological abnormalities were seen in the head, trunk and limbs. Ultrastructural studies on the visceral yolk sac of the momorcharin-treated embryos showed that the endodermal layer was deranged, membrane invaginations at the apical surface were decreased and intercellular space became distended. It is likely that the teratogenic action of momorcharins on mouse embryos in vitro is mediated through the deleterious effects on the visceral yolk sac, which functions as a vital transport organ for the conceptus at the immediate post-implantation period.
mesh_terms: D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D054788:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins; D015017:Yolk Sac / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; C039582:MMC protein, Momordica charantia; D054788:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins