Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy

Transgenerational Cardiac Defects from Maternal Dioxin Exposure

TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, commonly known as dioxin) is an omnipresent environmental toxicant that has effects on fetal development. Congenital heart defects are a common birth defect. Causes of congenital heart defects are largely unknown; however, some specific gene mutations have been identified as sources for congenital heart defects. Congenital heart defects that are not a sole product of genetics may be attributed to gene – environment interaction. We aim to investigate cardiac consequences of maternal dioxin exposure in mice by characterizing the morphology of previously sectioned fetal hearts at 18.5 days gestation, and staining hearts with hematoxylin/eosin and collagen staining. We will determine if there is a trans-generational impact of maternal dioxin exposure by examining the fetal hearts of the F2 generation (indirect exposure) for congenital defects.