Atrial and ventricular septal changes in ethanol vapour exposed chick embryos

Objective: To study the effects of ethanol vapour exposure on development of atrial and ventricular septa of chick embryo. Methods: The experimental study was conducted at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Islamabad, from 2006 to 2007. The experimental and control groups were further divided into three subgroups based on the day of sacrifice. The experimental group was exposed to ethanol vapours produced in a specially-designed vapour chamber and then compared with age-matched controls. Results: There were 90 eggs in each of the two groups. The development of inter-ventricular septum completed at day 7 of development in chick embryo. Ethanol vapour exposure produced a small discontinuity at day 10 of development in a chick embryo which may be labelled as ventricular septal defect since ventricular development is completed by day7. Interatrial septum formed till day 7 with small perforations which persisted till hatching. Conclusion: Ethanol vapour exposure may lead to ventricular septal defect.