The effect of ethanol vapour exposure on atrial and ventricular walls of chick embryos.

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of ethanol vapour exposure on atrial and ventricular walls of heart in chick embryo.

METHODS

The study design was experimental, conducted at Islamabad Centre of College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan. One hundred and eighty chicken eggs were divided into two groups, experimental and control, of 90 eggs each. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups of 30 eggs each based on the day of sacrifice. Experimental group was exposed to ethanol vapours and then compared with age matched controls.

RESULTS

The thickness of atrial and ventricular walls along with lengths of valvular cusps increased in hearts of day 7 and day 10 chick embryos in experimental group. There was thinning of walls and decreased length of valvular cusps in hearts of experimental chicks on hatching as compared to age matched controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethanol vapour exposure during development causes cardiac and septal wall thickening during initial days of development followed by cardiac and septal wall thinning which is a classical picture of alcohol induced cardiomyopathies.