TERATOGENIC EFFECTS OF IMPLANTING FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR-2-SOAKED BEADS IN THE CARDIAC REGION OF THE STAGE 24 CHICK-EMBRYO

The identification of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), and other fa mily members, in a variety of embryonic tissue extracts has implicated these growth factors as participants in many embryonic events, includ ing cardiogenesis. The present study was conducted in an attempt to ch aracterize the effects of exogenous FGF-2 on the development of the av ian heart. Heparin acrylic beads, each soaked in 100 mu g/ml FGF-2, we re applied to the Hamburger and Hamilton [(1951) J. Morphol. 88:49-92] stage 24 (day 4 of incubation) chick heart, near the primitive ventri cle. The embryos were allowed to develop until stage 41 (day 15), at w hich time they were observed for the presence of gross external and in ternal anomalies. Crown rump length (CRL), wet weight (WW), and variou s heart measurements were obtained and compared. The survival rate of the control group was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that for th e experimental group and the anomaly rate for the control group was si gnificantly lower (P < 0.01) than that for the experimental group. The experimental group exhibited a wide range of anomalies, most of which were cardiac in nature; however, anomalies of the ventral thoracoabdo minal wall were also noted. Our data suggest that application of exoge nous FGF-2 has teratogenic effects on cardiac development as well as o n the development of the ventral body wall of the avian embryo. (C) 19 98 Wiley-Liss, Inc.