title: The rat whole embryo culture assay using the Dysmorphology Score system.
abstract: The rat whole embryo culture (WEC) system has been used extensively for characterizing teratogenic properties of test chemicals. In this chapter, we describe the methodology for culturing rat embryos as well as a new morphological score system, the Dysmorphology Score (DMS) system for assessing morphology of mid gestation (gestational day 11) rat embryos. In contrast to the developmental stage focused scoring associated with the Brown and Fabro score system, this new score system assesses the respective degree of severity of dysmorphology, which delineates normal from abnormal morphology of specific embryonic structures and organ systems. This score system generates an approach that allows rapid identification and quantification of adverse developmental findings, making it conducive for characterization of compounds for teratogenic properties and screening activities.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Myers Squibb Co, Pennington, NJ, USA. cindy.zhang@bms.com
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Panzica-Kelly
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Augustine-Rauch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003470:Culture Media; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000196:embryology*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D014022:Tissue Survival
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media