Experiments and Ultrastructural Investigations on the Mouse Embryo during Early Teratogen-Sensitive Stages

摘要

The effect of iron gluconate on the mouse embryo was studied in early embryonic development before the chorioallantoic placenta was established. Iron gluconate is teratogenic to mouse embryos after intraperitoneal application to pregnant mice on the 8th and 9th days of gestation. The most pronounced defect is exencephaly. As seen with the electron microscope, iron gluconate enters the cells of the yolk sac. The excessive uptake of iron gluconate in the cells of the yolk sac alters these cells for a short period. Iron gluconate is visible, neither in the cells of the head process nor in the cells of the neuroectoderm, but the neuroectodermal cells show necrotic degeneration. Two different types of necrosis can be found; these appear at a time (13–22 h after maternal treatment) when the yolk sac cells are normalized agai