The environmental toxicant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin disrupts morphogenesis of the rat pre-implantation embryo
2008

TCDD Disrupts Rat Embryo Development

Sample size: 21 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Karla J Hutt, Zhanquan Shi, David F Albertini, Brian K Petroff

Primary Institution: University of Kansas Medical Center

Hypothesis

Does maternal exposure to TCDD affect the development of rat pre-implantation embryos?

Conclusion

Maternal exposure to TCDD disrupts the morphogenesis of rat pre-implantation embryos but does not compromise their survival to the blastocyst stage.

Supporting Evidence

  • Chronic and acute maternal TCDD exposure disrupted morphogenesis at the compaction stage.
  • Defects included monopolar spindle formation and altered nuclear shape.
  • Survival to the blastocyst stage was not compromised despite the observed defects.

Takeaway

When pregnant rats were exposed to a chemical called TCDD, it caused problems in how their embryos developed, but the embryos still survived to the next stage.

Methodology

The study used 3D confocal microscopy to analyze the effects of TCDD on rat pre-implantation embryos after maternal exposure.

Limitations

The study does not rule out effects of TCDD on the oocyte or the mother's physiology.

Participant Demographics

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-213X-8-1

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication