Gestational stage sensitivity to ultrasound effect on postnatal growth and development of mouse [abstract]

ABSTRACT

Pregnant Swiss albino mice were exposed to diagnostic ultrasound (3.5 MHz, 65 m W, Isptp= 1 W/cm2, 1sata=240 W/ccm2) for 30 min on any one day from day 10 to 18 gestation. A sham exposed control group was maintained for comparison. A minimum of 15 pregnant mice were exposed in each group. Exposed as well as control animals were left to complete gestation and parturition. Then offspring were observed during early postnatal development for any changes in physiological reflexes like pina detachment, eye opening, fur development, postnatal mortality, body weight, body length, head length and head width up to 6 weeks of age. Ultrasound exposure at any of the gestational age did not have any effect on the timing of onset of the physiological reflexes. But there was a significant change in the postnatal mortality, body weight, body length after exposure to ultrasound on the 14th and 16th day post coitus. Head length and head width also significantly decreased in all the exposed groups when compared to the control. The present study demonstrates that ultrasound can induce harmful effects on mouse growth and development when given at certain critical periods of gestation. (AU)