Metabolism wrenches developing guts.

Experiments on tadpoles have provided insights into intestinal malrotation, a birth anomaly that affects as many as 1 in 500 babies in the United States. Researchers found that interfering with tadpoles' metabolism caused their intestines to grow in the opposite direction. The study used frog embryos because their intestines are similar to those of humans, and the researchers exposed them to atrazine, a common herbicide and hormone disruptor. While the study does not prove that atrazine causes intestinal malrotation in humans, it suggests that metabolic disruption may play a role. Additionally, tadpoles given antioxidants before exposure to atrazine developed normal intestines, indicating a potential avenue for further research. [Extracted from the article]