Effects of Dexamethasone Exposure on Neural Crest Cells and Primary and Secondary Neurulation in Chick Embryos

pubmed: wnt1 2022-05-18

Turk Neurosurg. 2022 Jan 13. doi: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.34904-21.2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) treatment on neural crest cells and primary and secondary neurulation in chick embryos Material and Methods: Sixty fertilized eggs with an average weight of 65 ± 2 g were incubated in 60%-70% humidity at 37.2°C ± 0.1°C. After 26 h of incubation, the control group (n = 12) received 0.1 mg/kg saline (S), group 1 (n = 12) received 0.1 mg/kg Dex, group 2 (n = 12) received 1 mg/kg Dex, and group 3 (n = 12) received 5 mg/kg Dex into each embryonic disc. The eggs were incubated until Hamburger-Hamilton stage (HH) 15, HH18, and HH20. Then, the embryos were dissected and evaluated both macroscopically and microscopically.

RESULTS: The mortality rate in the control group, group 1, and groups 2 and 3 was 27%, 48%, and 100%, respectively. The neural tube thicknesses in group 1 significantly increased in HH15 and HH20 (p < 0.05). The mitosis number in group 1 significantly decreased in each stage (p < 0.05). Wnt-1 expression was significantly lower in group 1 in HH15 (p < 0.05) and HH18 (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in HH20 (p > 0.05). Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) expression was significantly lower in group 1 in HH15 (p < 0.05). The expression of N-cadherin was significantly higher in group 1 in HH20 (p < 0.05). Fibronectin expression decreased in group 1 in HH18 (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Although the Dex treatment did not result in a neural tube closure defect, the mortality rates and neural tube thicknesses increased, whereas mitotic activation and Wnt-1 and FGF signal pathways reduced in some stages.

PMID:35023136 | DOI:10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.34904-21.2