title: Effects of electromagnetic pulse on polydactyly of mouse fetuses.
abstract: There is an increasing public concern regarding potential health impacts from electromagnetic radiation exposure. Embryonic development is sensitive to the external environment, and limb development is vital for life quality. To determine the effects of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) on polydactyly of mouse fetuses, pregnant mice were sham-exposed or exposed to EMP (400 kV/m with 400 pulses) from Days 7 to 10 of pregnancy (Day 0 = day of detection of vaginal plug). As a positive control, mice were treated with 5-bromodeoxyuridine on Days 9 and 10. On Days 11 or 18, the fetuses were isolated. Compared with the sham-exposed group, the group exposed to EMP had increased rates of polydactyly fetuses (5.1% vs. 0.6%, P < 0.05) and abnormal gene expression (22.2% vs. 2.8%, P < 0.05). Ectopic expression of Fgf4 was detected in the apical ectodermal ridge, whereas overexpression and ectopic expression of Shh were detected in the zone of polarizing activity of limbs in the EMP-exposed group and in the positive control group. However, expression of Gli3 decreased in mesenchyme cells in those two groups. The percentages of programmed cell death of limbs in EMP-exposed and positive control group were decreased (3.57% and 2.94%, respectively, P < 0.05, compared with 7.76% in sham-exposed group). In conclusion, polydactyly induced by EMP was accompanied by abnormal expression of the above-mentioned genes and decreased percentage of programmed cell death during limb development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Medicine and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Juan
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jun-Ye
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ya-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hai-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Li-Yan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Guo-Zhen
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D060733:Electromagnetic Radiation; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4 / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D005865:Gestational Age; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017689:Polydactyly / Q000196:embryology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D000074290:Zinc Finger Protein Gli3
chemical_list: C496446:Fgf4 protein, mouse; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; C465571:Gli3 protein, mouse; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C465570:Shh protein, mouse; D000074290:Zinc Finger Protein Gli3