Diminished embryonic movements of developing embryo by direct exposure of sidestream whole smoke solutions

Abstract

Embryonic movements (EM) are considered to be the first sign of life and cigarette smoking during pregnancy has been linked to affect EM. Exposure to sidestream smoke, produced from the emissions of a smoldering cigarette, may result in poor pregnancy outcome and increased risk of serious perinatal morbidity and mortality. In this study, the chicken embryo bioassay was used to systematically assess the effects of short-term exposure to sidestream whole smoke solutions (SSWSS) on EM, recorded in real time by a video camera for 60 min and each EM was counted for every 3-min interval. Application of different types of SSWSS to the embryos caused significant changes in all types of EM from 15 to 18 min of recording time. Extensive reduction (P<0.001) and some time complete stoppage of swing-like movements and whole-body movements were observed in almost all treated embryos. Our data clearly link between exposure of SSWSS and substantial decrease in EM. It is unclear whether nicotine and/or other ingredients present in sidestream smoke are responsible for these alterations in EM. This article provides an outline of the relevance of SSWSS on EM for evolutionary developmental biology and this assay can be used to investigate the complex mixtures with regard to their effects on EM.

Expression classifiers for developmental toxicants

“…Next open questions to be addressed are whether the test systems correctly identify further classes of developmental compounds and differentiate them from compounds acting by unspecific toxic mechanisms or substances that preferentially cause other types of toxicities. In the past and also presently developmental toxicity has mostly been tested in vivo (Lee et al, 2011[ 13 ], 2007[ 12 ]; Liu et al, 2010[ 15 ]; Moss et al, 2009[ 17 ]; Xi et al, 2009[ 26 ]; Oesch et al, 2008[ 18 ]; Stapleton and Chan, 2009[ 22 ]; Ejaz and Woong, 2006[ 3 ]). Although some first important steps have been achieved in this field of in vitro research there seems to be a long way to go until animal experiments in developmental toxicity can be fully replaced by alternative methods.…”