Study of underwater shock wave induced embryonic modification in-vivo

This paper reports a preliminary study of underwater shock wave application for modification and possible control of embryonic cell differentiation and proliferation. Underwater shock waves have been of interest for various scientific, industrial, and medical applications. Shock waves have been successfully applied for disintegration of kidney stones in Urology and for bone formation in Orthopedics surgery. In the present study shock waves were generated by electric discharge using a magnetic pulse compression circuit (MPC) and tungsten point to point electrodes. Uniformly formed shock waves were used. Pressure profiles of shock waves were measured by a fiber optic probe hydrophone (FOPH). Underwater shock waves were applied to medaka egg embryos through an experimental setup. A variety range of number of shock waves from 1 to 50 shots and with different overpressures from 15 to 45 MPa was applied. The effects of shock waves on the embryo growth were observed by a fluorescent microscope for three weeks. Propidium iodide (PI) was used to investigate the effects of shock wave on the cell membrane. After shock wave application, a very clear modification was observed; the extents of damage were increased by increasing the shock wave numbers.