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Updated: Sep 25, 2025
Author Spotlight: Effect of Left Atrial Ligation on Avian Embryonic Hearts and HLHS Implications
Published on: June 16, 2023
Blood Flow Disturbance and Morphological Alterations Following the Right Atrial Ligation in the Chick Embryo
Maha Alser1, Huseyin Enes Salman2, Azza Naïja1
1Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Insights
Researchers developed a new surgical method, right atrial ligation (RAL), in chick embryos to model Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS). However, RAL did not produce the expected severe cardiac defects, offering insights into heart development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cardiovascular research
- Surgical innovation
Background:
- Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are common neonatal issues, with ventricular abnormalities significantly impacting heart function.
- Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS) is a rare condition characterized by an underdeveloped right ventricle.
- Understanding the developmental origins of CHDs, particularly those driven by hemodynamics, is crucial for therapeutic advancements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and evaluate a novel surgical procedure, right atrial ligation (RAL), in chick embryos as a model for HRHS.
- To investigate the impact of induced right-sided heart hemodynamic disturbances on ventricular development.
- To assess the efficacy of RAL in generating a clinically relevant animal model for HRHS research.
Main Methods:
- Surgical induction of right atrial ligation (RAL) in chick embryos to alter right heart hemodynamics.
- Utilized Doppler ultrasound for functional flow analysis.
- Employed x-ray micro-CT and histology for detailed structural examination.
- Performed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to model blood flow patterns.
Main Results:
- The RAL procedure did not result in severe flow disturbances or ventricular abnormalities consistent with clinical HRHS.
- The study provided a comprehensive analysis of cardiac structure and function post-RAL.
- Insights into the sensitivity of developing ventricles to hemodynamic changes were gained.
Conclusions:
- Right atrial ligation (RAL) in chick embryos is not a suitable model for inducing Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS).
- The study highlights the complex mechanisms underlying hemodynamics-driven congenital heart defect development.
- Further research is needed to refine models for studying HRHS and other ventricular abnormalities.
Abstract:
Collectively known as congenital heart defects (CHDs), cardiac abnormalities at birth are the most common forms of neonatal defects. Being principally responsible for the heart's pumping power, ventricles are particularly affected by developmental abnormalities, such as flow disturbances or genomic defects. Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS) is a rare disease where the right ventricle is underdeveloped. In this study, we introduce a surgical procedure performed on chick embryo, termed right atrial ligation (RAL) for disturbing hemodynamics within the right heart aiming in order to generate an animal model of HRHS. RAL is a new surgical manipulation, similar to the well-studied left atrial ligation (LAL) surgery but it induces the hemodynamic change into the right side of the heart. After inducing RAL, We utilized techniques such as Doppler ultrasound, x-ray micro-CT, histology, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, for a comprehensive functional and structural analysis of a developing heart. Our results displayed that RAL does not induce severe flow disturbance and ventricular abnormalities consistent with clinical findings. This study allows us to better understand the hemodynamics-driven CHD development and sensitivities of ventricles under disturbed flows.
