PMID: 7026989Apr 1, 1981Paper

Overdistention of the neural tube causes congenital heart disease

Medical Hypotheses
W J Gardner

Abstract

Congenital heart disease consists of cardiac anomalies that originated before or during the truncus arteriosus stage. The central nervous system, serving all organs, is the first to develop. It is the only organ possessing a third circulation. Immediately after the neural tube closes at the fourth week, its lining of immature ependymal cells secretes a proteinaceous neural tube fluid (NTF) at a pressure higher than the amniotic pressure. The resulting distention helps to shape not only the embryonic brain and spinal cord but also the bordering mesodermal cells that later will form vertebrae. The choroid plexus does not begin to secrete true cerebrospinal fluid until two weeks later. Should hypersecretion occur during this critical two week interval, the neural tube will overdistend and allow NTF to infiltrate into mesoderm (Fig. 1). Here, this fluid with its extraneous protein, may damage cells that are destined to form the anlagen of mesodermal organs such as the heart. It may also damage the primitive gut resulting in pulmonary, gastrointestinal and genitourinary anomalies. The most convincing evidence that the neural tube had been overdistended is the combination of anterior and posterior spina bifida that constitutes bilate...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1977·Teratology·K Benirschke, V des Roches Harper
Jan 1, 1975·Archives of Environmental Health·A H Nora, J J Nora
Jul 1, 1966·Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine·M Marin-Padilla
Jan 1, 1961·Archives of Neurology·W J GARDNER
Apr 1, 1960·Cleveland Clinic Quarterly·W J GARDNER
Feb 1, 1964·Postgraduate Medical Journal·K R POOL
Apr 1, 1961·Archives of Disease in Childhood·B Duhamel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 1, 1997·Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·R D AttenboroughD S Gardner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Birth Defects

Birth defects encompass structural and functional alterations that occur during embryonic or fetal development and are present since birth. The cause may be genetic, environmental or unknown and can result in physical and/or mental impairment. Here is the latest research on birth defects.

CSF & Lymphatic System

This feed focuses on Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) and the lymphatic system. Discover the latest papers using imaging techniques to track CSF outflow into the lymphatic system in animal models.