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A Novel Ex Ovo Banding Technique to Alter Intracardiac Hemodynamics in an Embryonic Chicken System
Published on: May 13, 2016
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Reversible small bowel obstruction in the chicken foetus
Christina Oetzmann von Sochaczewski1, Katharina Wenke, Roman Patrick Metzger
1Department of Paediatric Surgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
African Journal of Paediatric Surgery : AJPS
|February 10, 2015
Summary
Prenatal intestinal obstruction in chicken embryos causes significant gut dilation and atresia. Releasing the obstruction on embryonic day 15 allows for near-normal gut morphology development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Embryology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Ligation of the embryonic gut is a known method to induce intestinal obstruction and atresia in chicken embryos.
- This study refines this model to investigate the dynamics of morphological changes and adaptations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the kinetics of morphological changes following prenatal intestinal obstruction.
- To assess the feasibility of releasing the obstruction in ovo during later embryonic development.
- To describe the morphological adaptations after ligature removal.
Main Methods:
- Intestinal ligation was performed on embryonic day 11 in chick embryos.
- Gut segments were harvested from embryonic day 12-19 for analysis.
- Acetyl choline esterase staining was employed to evaluate morphological alterations.
- A subset of embryos had the ligature removed on embryonic day 15.
Main Results:
- Intestinal obstruction led to progressive proximal segment dilation, observable by embryonic day 15 and worsening by embryonic day 19.
- Intestinal atresia was noted after embryonic day 16.
- Disturbed enteric nervous system morphology was evident in dilated segments.
- Obstruction release on embryonic day 15 resulted in near-normal gut morphology by embryonic day 19.
Conclusions:
- The modified chicken model effectively demonstrates morphological changes due to induced obstruction.
- Crucially, the model also reveals adaptive morphological changes following the release of the obstruction.

