In vitro analysis of esophageal atresia using a whole-embryo culture system.
OBJECTIVE
Administration of Adriamycin to pregnant rats leads to the development of esophageal atresia with tracheo-esophageal fistula. This defect arises from failure of the trachea to develop normally from the primitive foregut; instead,the upper foregut differentiates into trachea, then continues to the lower esophageal segment as a tracheo-esophageal fistula. Our aim was to explore the possibility of growing Adriamycin-exposed embryos using a whole-embryo culture technique and to determine whether or not esophageal atresia with tracheo-esophageal fistula could be prevented in an Adriamycin-treated rat model.


METHODS
Rat embryos were exposed to Adriamycin in utero on days 6 - 9 of gestation, removed on day 10 and grown in vitro as described by New (11) for 48 hours using 100% serum from animals not exposed to Adriamycin.


RESULTS
Thirty Adriamycin-exposed embryos were grown in vitro using normal serum. Histologic assessment of tracheo-esophageal development showed that 14 embryos had normal development, while 16 developed esophageal atresia.


CONCLUSIONS
Growth of Adriamycin-exposed embryos was successful using "whole-embryo culture technique"; abnormal tracheo-esophageal development could in some cases be altered by removing the embryos at day 10 and exposing them to normal serum for 48 hours.
Merei
J M
JM
Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. mereij@just.edu.jo
Hasthorpe
S
S
Hutson
J M
JM
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003470:Culture Media; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D004317:Doxorubicin