Critical cardiac and renal developmental windows for Atenolol exposure in embryos of the chicken Gallus gallus

Abstract

Embryonic development of the cardiovascular and renal organs of vertebrates has been explored extensively, but typically as two separate systems. Yet, in adults, these organs operate as an integrated, dynamic and highly interactive system. We studied these system interactions by pharmacologically affecting heart growth and determining indirect effects on renal mass in day 18 chicken embryos. Embryos were treated with Atenolol, a β1‐ cardioselective adrenergic blocker, during three stages of renal development. Atenolol was injected during mesonephric stage (days 7,8,9 or group S), meso/metanephric stage (days 11,12,13 or group B), and metanephric stage (days 15,16,17 or group T). Controls were labeled group C. Body masses of group C (21.51 ± 0.8578 g) were significantly larger than all drug‐treated groups (p < 0.01), while mean body mass of group S (16.34 ± 0.6562 g) was the smallest. Mean body masses increased in a linear pattern throughout development in all treatments. Heart masses of group S (130.0 ± 5.306 mg) were the largest of all groups (p < 0.01). Metanephric kidney mass of groups S and T were significantly larger than the remaining groups (p < 0.0001). Group S showed the largest kidney mass (149.5 ± 6.753 mg, p < 0.0001). These data suggest a day 7–9 critical window of cardiovascular development for Atenolol exposure. Kidney effects were not as straightforward, and require further investigation. NSF IOS‐1025823