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Updated: Sep 15, 2026
Analysis of Neural Crest Migration and Differentiation by Cross-species Transplantation
Published on: February 7, 2012
Relation of early hemodynamic changes to final cardiac phenotype and survival after neural crest ablation in chick
H Tomita1, D M Connuck, L Leatherbury
1Department of Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-2000.
Background:
Microcinephotography was used to study a model of persistent truncus arteriosus created in chick embryos by ablation of premigratory neural crest destined for the third and fourth aortic arch arteries as well as the septum of the cardiac outflow tract.
Methods And Results:
Twenty-five control embryos and 105 of 202 experimental embryos were filmed on day 3 of incubation and then reincubated. The remaining 97 experimental embryos were not filmed because of twisting of the embryos, but they were reincubated. There was no difference in either the survival rate (p greater than 0.23) from day 3 to day 11 of incubation or the incidence of persistent truncus arteriosus (p greater than 0.08) between the filmed and the nonfilmed embryos. Incomplete looping of the cardiac tube observed in experimental embryos during early cardiogenesis correlated with a right ventricular origin of the outflow vessels in the definitive heart. Hemodynamic measurements indicated that there was no difference in heart rate, ejection fraction, systolic and diastolic areas, stroke volume, and cardiac output between controls and the experimental group as a whole. However, embryos that did not survive to day 11 had decreased stroke volume (p less than 0.001) and cardiac output (p less than 0.001), whereas embryos that survived to day 11 with cardiac malformations had increased stroke volume and cardiac output in early embryogenesis.
Conclusions:
Increased stroke volume and cardiac output may be necessary factors for survival in embryos with cardiac dysmorphogenesis and probably are associated with dilation of the ventricular portion of the cardiac tube, which leads to malalignment of the outflow vessel or vessels.
Insights
Persistent truncus arteriosus in chick embryos was studied. Increased stroke volume and cardiac output may be crucial for survival in embryos with cardiac dysmorphogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cardiovascular research
- Embryology
Background:
- Persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA) is a congenital heart defect.
- A chick embryo model was used to study PTA.
- Neural crest ablation created the model of PTA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of hemodynamics in PTA development.
- To understand survival factors in cardiac dysmorphogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Microcinephotography was used to film chick embryos.
- Ablation of neural crest cells created PTA model.
- Hemodynamic parameters were measured.
Main Results:
- Filmed and non-filmed embryos showed no difference in survival or PTA incidence.
- Incomplete cardiac looping correlated with outflow vessel origin.
- Embryos with cardiac malformations had increased stroke volume and cardiac output.
Conclusions:
- Increased stroke volume and cardiac output are likely necessary for survival in cardiac dysmorphogenesis.
- These hemodynamic changes may lead to outflow vessel malalignment.
