Experimental Production of Congenital Cardiovascular Anomalies

Abstract

The literature related to cardiovascular anomalies experimentally produced by various agents were discussed accordiug to the following items. 1. Heredity Incidences and types of congenital cardiovascular anomalies were described in various species, breeds and strains, or families of animals. The experimental data of reciprocal mating in rats and fowls to rule out the intrauterine environmental factors were explained. II. Physical or mechanical factors l Irradiation a External irradiation (X-ray or neutron) 1) Local irradiation i) Irradiation of different parts of the heart rudiment ii ) Irradiation of wide transverse strips behind the heart 2 ) Direct irradiation to the embryo without exposure of the mother to radiation 3) Whole-body irradiation of the pregnant mother b Internal irradiation (^<32>P) 2 Hemodynamic factors Cardiovascular anomalies induced by direct surgical manipulation of the developing heart of the embryo and other organs were discussed. 3 Hypoxia and excess-CO_2 Cardiac malformations induced by anoxia and exposure of the mother to carbon dioxide during pregnancy were described. 4 Others a) Stimulation of the central nervous system b) Temperature variations Elevation of temperature was not teratogenic with respect to the heart. Cardiovascular anomalies were produced in the decreasing temperature. III. Viral infections Since Gregg's report, there have been many reports on the frequency of abnormalities in children whose mothers had been suffering from rubella during early pregnancy. Few experimental work** have been done. VI. Hypo- or Hypernutrition 1 Vitamin A a) Deficiency b) Hypervitaminosis 2 Riboflavin (lactoflavin) deficiency 3 Pteroylglutamic acid (PGA), folic acid deficiency 4 Vitamin E deficiency 5 Panthothenic acid deficiency (to be concluded)