Abstract
The avian embryo is a long-standing model for developmental biology research. It also has proven utility for toxicology research both in ovo and in explant culture. Like mammals, avian embryos have an allantois and their developmental pathways are highly conserved with those of mammals, thus avian models have biomedical relevance. Fertile eggs are inexpensive and the embryo develops rapidly, allowing for high-throughput. The chick genome is sequenced and significant molecular resources are available for study, including the ability for genetic manipulation. The absence of a placenta permits the direct study of an agent’s embryotoxic effects. Here, we present protocols for using avian embryos in toxicology research, including egg husbandry and hatch, toxicant delivery, and assessment of proliferation, apoptosis, and cardiac structure and function.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Eyal-Giladi H, Kochav S (1976) From cleavage to primitive streak formation: a complementary normal table and a new look at the first stages of the development of the chick. I. General morphology. Dev Biol 49:321–337
Hamburger V, Hamilton HL (1951) A series of normal stages in the development of the chick embryo. J Morphol 88:49–92
Sauka-Spengler T, Barenbaum M (2008) Gain- and loss-of-function approaches in the chick embryo. Methods Cell Biol 87:237–256
Smith SM (2008) The avian embryo in fetal alcohol research. Methods Mol Biol 447:75–84
Eichele G, Tickle C, Alberts BM (1984) Microcontrolled release of biologically active compounds in chick embryos: beads of 200-microns diameter for the local release of retinoids. Anal Biochem 142:542–555
Garic A, Flentke GR, Amberger E, Hernandez M, Smith SM (2011) CaMKII activation is a novel effector of alcohol’s neurotoxicity in neural crest stem/progenitor cells. J Neurochem 118:646–657
New DAT (1955) A new technique for the cultivation of the chick embryo in vitro. J Embryol Exp Morphol 3:326–331
Drake VJ, Koprowski SL, Lough JW, Smith SM (2006) The gastrulating chick embryo as a model for evaluating teratogenicity: a comparison of three approaches. Birth Defects Res A 76:66–71
Mishima N, Hoffman S, Hill EG, Krug EL (2006) Chick embryos exposed to trichloroethylene in an ex ovo culture model show selective defects in early endocardial cushion tissue formation. Birth Defects Res A 76:517–527
Chapman SC, Collignon J, Schoenwolf GC, Lumsden A (2001) Improved method for chick whole-embryo culture using a filter paper carrier. Dev Dyn 220:284–289
Zucker RM, Hunter ES 3rd, Rogers JM (1999) Apoptosis and morphology in mouse embryos by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Methods 18:473–480
Cartwright MM, Tessmer LA, Smith SM (1998) Ethanol-induced neural crest apoptosis is coincident with their endogenous death but is mechanistically distinct. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 22:142–149
Drake VJ, Koprowski SL, Hu N, Lough JW, Smith SM (2006) Trichloroethylene exposure during cardiac valvuloseptal morphogenesis alters cushion formation and cardiac hemodynamics in the avian embryo. Environ Health Perspect 114:842–847
Smith SM, Cartwright MM (1997) Spatial visualization of apoptosis using a whole mount in situ DNA end-labeling technique. Biotechniques 22:832–834
Rufer ES, Hacker TA, Flentke GR, Drake VJ, Brody MJ, Lough J, Smith SM (2010) Altered cardiac function and ventricular septal defect in avian embryos exposed to low-dose trichloroethylene. Toxicol Sci 113:444–452
McQuinn TC, Bratoeva M, Dealmeida A, Remond M, Thompson RP, Sedmera D (2007) High-frequency ultrasonographic imaging of avian cardiovascular development. Dev Dyn 236:3503–3513
Darnell DK, Schoenwolf GC (2000) Culture of avian embryos. In: Tuan RS, Lo CW (eds) Methods in molecular biology. Vol 135: developmental biology protocols, v.1. Humana, Totowa, NJ, pp 31–38
Mizeres NJ, Jackson AJ (1983) Methods of dissection in human anatomy. Elsevier Science, New York, NY
Pexieder T (1995) Overview: proper laboratory practice in experimental studies of abnormal cardiovascular development. In: Clark EB, Markwalk RR, Takao A (eds) Developmental mechanisms of heart disease. Futura, Armonk, NY, pp 169–174
Ros MA, Simandl BK, Clark AW, Fallon JF (2000) Methods for manipulating the chick limb bud to study gene expression, tissue interactions, and patterning. In: Tuan RS, Lo CW (eds) Methods in molecular biology. Vol 137: developmental biology protocols, v.3. Humana, Totowa, NJ, pp 245–266
Acknowledgments
Supported by NIH MERIT Award R37 AA11085 to S.M.S.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Smith, S.M., Flentke, G.R., Garic, A. (2012). Avian Models in Teratology and Developmental Toxicology. In: Harris, C., Hansen, J. (eds) Developmental Toxicology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 889. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-867-2_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-867-2_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-866-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-867-2
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols