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Breakthrough in Chick Embryology: Shell-less Cultivation Method Developed
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have made significant strides in avian embryology by developing a novel method for culturing fertilized chick eggs without their shells. Using a transparent artificial culture vessel, the team has enabled real-time monitoring of chick embryo development from the moment of egg laying to hatching.
This study appears in the journal Scientific Reports, marking a potential shift in how researchers observe and interact with embryonic development.
The challenge of studying chicken embryonic development is long-standing and can be traced back to ancient scholars such as Aristotle around 300 BC. Traditionally, the opaque nature of chicken eggshells necessitated breaking the shell to visualize the embryo’s development. Consequently, scientific efforts have focused on creating transparent culture vessels. Previous attempts involved removing embryos from their shells after three days of incubation and placing them in a transparent vessel, but this approach proved unsuitable for zero-day-old embryos, which failed to develop correctly.
The research team explored the underlying reasons for the developmental issues in zero-day-old embryos. Their investigation revealed that the yolk membrane, which protects the blastoderm—the area of active cell division—dried out by the third day of incubation. To address this problem, the researchers innovatively incorporated a rotary shaker, adjusting the angle of the top plate to 7°. This method maintained moisture around the blastoderm, significantly enhancing the survival rate of three-day-old embryos.
As a demonstration of the method’s effectiveness, the embryos continued to develop normally under this shell-less culture system, culminating in the successful hatching of several healthy chicks on the 21st day of incubation.
The implications of this groundbreaking research extend beyond the immediate realm of poultry science; they hold promise for several applications. The newly developed method may facilitate advanced studies in chick embryo development, enhance toxicity assessments of various substances, and support initiatives in regenerative medicine.
More information: Katsuya Obara et al, Real-time visualisation of developing chick embryos cultured in transparent plastic films from the blastoderm stage until hatching, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72004-y
Provided by the University of Tsukuba.
Citation: New method enables real-time visualization of chick embryo development from egg to chick (2024, October 15) retrieved 15 October 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-10-method-enables-real-visualization-chick.html
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