EXPERIMENTAL CONGENITAL HYDROCEPHALUS - REVIEW WITH SPECIAL CONSIDERATION OF HYDROCEPHALUS PRODUCED BY ZINC-DEFICIENCY

Abstract

A review was made of experimental methods available to produce congenital hydrocephalus by teratogenic methods. Radiation, infections, trypan blue, hypervitaminosis A, salicylates and nutritional deficiencies were considered. In the course of prenatal Zn deficiency experiments [in rats], congenital hydrocephalus was frequently encountered and histologic sections were made of many representative specimens. Various types of aqueduct stenosis or obliteration are described. Although these anomalies suggested that occlusion of the aqueduct was the cause of the enlargement of the ventricular system it was noted that there was also ventricular dilatation caudal to the stenotic point of the aqueduct. Hydrocephalus without aqueductal stenosis was also observed in experimental animals. Some cases of congenital hydrocephalus attributed to aqueductal stenosis were examples of hydrocephalus with secondary block of the aqueduct.