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The early development of the mammalian embryo belongs to a period which, for the student, provides the particularly deep fascination connected with the processes of germination of the fIrst tender buds of life. Moreover, developmental biology encompasses a very large part of biology; if broadly dermed - almost all of it. The same is true for the fIeld of pathology if the manifold possibilities of disorders of the orderly arranged pathways of developmental processes are considered. Normal development in its earliest steps - and it would be diffI cult to see it otherwise - means the functioning of very intricate systems of complex inter dependent cycles controlled by structural, genetic, physiological and biochemical determi nants. However, disturbances interfering with them in their very different ways, can lead to fetal death, disorders of growth and differentiation, malformation and disease, sometimes as late as in the next generation or later. This is, indeed, the concern of the pathologist to whom and to whose interest in developmental pathology, this book is dedicated. The outlines of the present volume were conceived at a symposium on "Control of early em bryogenesis and factors responsible for failure of embryonic development" held May 1-4, 1974 in Travemtinde and sponsored by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Almost fIfty active participants attended this conference. At the time and in keeping with the purpose of the conference, publication of the proceedings was not envisaged.
List of contents
I. Introduction.- Developmental Anomalies Arising from Errors of Fertilization and Cleavage.- II. Oocyte, Early Embryo and Maternal Host. Morphology and Biochemistry.- Oocyte Maturation and Paternal Contribution to the Embryo in Mammals. With 26 Figures.- Maternal Storage in the Mammalian Oocyte.- The Genetic Activity of the Early Mammalian Embryo. With 1 Figure.- Formation of the Blastocyst: Determination of Trophoblast and Embryonic Knot. With 8 Figures.- III. Pharmacological and Hormonal Influences in Early Embryogenesis.- The Response of the Preimplantation Embryo to Exogenous Factors.- Embryo Transfer Technique and Action of Drugs on the Preimplantation Embryo. With 2 Figures.- Uterine Secretion Protein Patterns Under Hormonal Influences. With 10 Figures.- IV. Teratology.- Organ Culture in Teratology. With 13 Figures.- Teratogenic Effects and Placental Permeability of Heavy Metals. With 3 Figures.- V. Cytogenetics.- Experimental Heteroploidy in Mammals. With 7 Figures.- Autosomal Monosomy and Trisomy Causing Developmental Failure. With 9 Figures.- Chromosomal Anomalies in Early Spontaneous Abortion. With 7 Figures.
About the author
Kurt Benirschke received his MD from the University of Hamburg in 1948 and subsequently moved to the United States, where he trained in pathology at different university hospitals. He held various Harvard Medical School appointments before becoming Professor of Pathology and Chairman of the Department of Pathology at Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, New Hampshire, where his interests included placental pathology, comparative reproductive pathology, and comparative cytogenetics. In 1970, Dr. Benirschke became Professor of Pathology and Reproductive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center. He established a genetics laboratory and ran the autopsy service at the Center, and also chaired the Department of Pathology for 2 years. In addition, he served as Director of Research at San Diego Zoo in a newly established research department. There, he established the first frozen zoo, comprising a collection of frozen cells and reproductive material from highly endangered species. Dr. Benirschke was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1994. After retiring from the faculty at UCSD he was appointed Professor Emeritus and also served as President of the Zoo's Board of Trustees. His many honors and awards include the ARCS Foundation Scientist of the Year in 1997, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums R. Marlin Perkins Award in 1998, and the E.A. Dickson Emeriti Professorship in 2008.
