Developmental defects of coronary vasculature in rat embryos administered bis-diamine.

Background: Conotruncal anomalies are often associated with abnormal coronary arteries. Although bis-diamine is known to induce conotruncal defects, its pathological effects on coronary vascular development have not been demonstrated. This study sought to assess the teratogenic effects of bis-diamine on coronary vascular development and the pathogenesis of this anomalous association.

In vitro model for mouse coronary vasculogenesis.

To analyze the molecular mechanisms of coronary vessel formation, we performed in vitro experiments on explant cultures of proepicardial organs (PEOs) excised from embryos taken from 9.5-day pregnant mice. When plated on coverglasses coated with rat tail collagen I, fibronectin, or laminin, PEO cells spread and formed an epithelial sheet.

Association of aortic arch anomalies and subclavian artery supply disruption with neurofibromatosis.

We report an 8-year-old Japanese girl with von Recklinghausen disease, who presented with aortic arch anomalies and left hemilateral oculo-otolaryngeal abnormalities including strabismus, blepharoptosis, a dysplastic external ear and hearing loss. The aortic arch anomalies including subclavian artery obstruction that appeared to be a consequence of the neurofibromatosis, and the hemilateral oculo-otolaryngeal abnormalities could be explained by disruption of the subclavian artery supply during embryogenesis.

Teratogenic effects of bis-diamine on the developing cardiac conduction system.

Background: Congenital heart defects, including conotruncal anomalies, are often associated with arrhythmias. Bis-diamine induces conotruncal anomalies in embryos when administered to pregnant female rats. To investigate the mechanism of arrhythmia in conotruncal anomalies, we histologically examined the development of the cardiac conduction system in this animal model.

Morphological differences in cardiovascular anomalies induced by bis-diamine between Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats.

It is known that animals show different responses to the same teratogen between different strains. We examined cardiac malformations in Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Wistar rats induced by bis-diamine, which produced conotruncal anomalies and aortic arch malformations in embryos when administered to the dams, to elucidate the morphological differences and pathogenesis in the two strains. Two hundred milligrams of bis-diamine dissolved in 1% gum-tragacanth was administered to pregnant rats on embryonic day (ED) 9.

Teratogenic effects of bis-diamine on the developing myocardium.

Background: Bis-diamine induces conotruncal anomalies and disproportional ventricular development in rat embryos when administered to the mother. To evaluate the mechanisms of disproportional ventricular development in the anomalous heart, we analyzed the morphology of the embryonic heart and investigated cardiomyocytic DNA synthesis and apoptosis.

Methods: A single dose of 200 mg of bis-diamine was administered to pregnant rats Wistar on day 9.