Novel approach to evaluate the interaction of pulsed ultrasound with embryonic development

An in vitro whole-embryo culture system was used which allowed ultrasound to interact directly with rat embryos, at 9.5 days of gestation, under conditions of controlled temperature. Neural plate damage, expressed during a critical period of forebrain development, was evaluated 48 h post-insonation. Ultrasound-induced effects were thus identified in the absence of significant temperature changes or complications from the influence of maternal physiology. Exposures to 3.2 microseconds pulses of 3.14 MHz ultrasound at a PRF of 2 kHz and 1.2 W cm-2 intensity (ISPTA) for durations of 5, 15 or 30 min produced no major morphological abnormalities at a temperature of 38.5 degrees C. Embryonic response to stress was evidenced by changes in protein synthesis, and delayed development was indicated by a reduction in somite number. These effects were enhanced when the insonation temperature was elevated by 1.5 degrees C.