Abnormal development of the enteric nervous system in rat embryos and fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Background/aim: Esophageal dilatation, gastroesophageal reflux, and intestinal obstruction have been demonstrated in CDH survivors. Abnormal esophageal and intestinal innervations were recently found in rats and babies with this disease. Our aim was to further characterize these malformations in embryos and fetal rats exposed to nitrofen.