Congenital anomalies in the pig: teratogenic effects of trypan blue

Teratology studies in the minipig

The minipig is a suitable species for regulatory teratology testing and may be regarded as an alternative to the rabbit, dog, and primate. The first successful regulatory teratology studies in the minipig were performed in the 1990s. It became clear that minipigs have several benefits over the other non-rodents, as they are purpose-bred for laboratory use, they are sexually mature at approximately 5 months of age, and they produce multiple offspring. The minipig has subsequently gained regulatory acceptance in the teratology testing of new drugs.

A chicken model to study the embryology of cloacal exstrophy

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The embryology of bladder and cloacal exstrophy is a mystery. Reasons for this are the lack of human embryos showing these malformations as well as the scarcity of appropriate animal models. Here, the authors present cases of cloacal exstrophies found in chick embryos subsequent to the application of suramin and trypan blue. This animal model might facilitate insight into the embryology of cloacal exstrophy.

METHODS

Fertilized chicken eggs were incubated at 38 degrees C and 75% humidity. Embryos were treated in ovo on incubation day 3. The egg shell was windowed, and solutions of suramin (stage 13, 2 x 40 microL/0.2%) or trypan blue (stage 14, 2 x 80 microL/0.03%) were injected into the coelomic cavity. The window was closed, and the embryos were reincubated until examination on incubation day 8. Fifty embryos were treated in each group.

RESULTS

Among the surviving embryos, cloacal exstrophy was found in 2 cases in the suramin-treated group (2 of 29, 6.9%) and in 4 cases in the trypan blue-treated group (4 of 20, 20%).

CONCLUSIONS

Suramin and trypan blue can induce cloacal exstrophy in chick embryos. The authors now are modifying their experimental protocols to increase the incidence of this malformation. This model might facilitate studies on the morphogenesis of cloacal exstrophy.

Use of the Goettingen miniature pig for studying pyrimethamine teratogenesis

Although pigs are suitable animals for experimental teratology, use of miniature pigs developed as a medicobiological experimental animal is essential for this purpose. Miniature pigs are established genetically so that the background data on the naturally occurring birth defects are reliable, whereas the commercial breeds are always improved genetically to seek higher productivity. In this review the authors summarized pyrimethamine teratogenesis in Goettingen miniature pigs. Pyrimethamine administration to a pregnant sow during the early stage of the organogenetic period caused cleft palate and other birth defects, and also hind leg paralysis, a functional defect in newborns.