Effect of environmental heat shock on developing foetuses of hamsters
Singh, S.; Sengupta, S.; Sensharma, G.C.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 73: 809-814
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 7262956 Document Number: 174757
Pregnant golden hamsters were kept in incubators fixed at a temperature of 40.degree. and 41.degree. C for 1 and 1.5 h during gestation day 8 (sperm + ve = day 0) and fetuses were collected after hysterotomy on day 15. Though no external malformations were observed in the treated fetuses, they were stunted in size and their weights were significantly reduced (P < 0.001). Those treated for 1.5 h showed retardation in 82% of cases at -1 SD level and 1/3 of these were stunted at -2 SD level. Mortality in the fetuses exposed to 41.degree. C was maximum, which was significantly (P < 0.001) higher as compared to controls, i.e., 33 and 6.5%, respectively. The treated brains were micrencephalic and their length, width and weights were markedly reduced (P < 0.001). The severity of micrencephaly was related more to the degree of raised temperature than to the duration of heat shock.