Abstract

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the teratogenicity of Riparin III in embryos of Gallus gallus (domestic) at an early stage of development. This study is unprecedented in the literature. Chicken eggs were used to investigate the morphometry. All the groups were incubated at 37.2 ± 0.1°C and 60 ± 5% relative humidity for 24 h. The embryonic disc was identified and the eggs of the control group were administered 0.1 ml of saline tamponade (PBS, pH 7.0) and those of the other group were administered Riparin III in 25, 50 and 100 μg/ml doses. The eggs were closed with sterile adhesive strips and incubation was continued for another 24 h. All the eggs were then reopened and the embryos dissected from embryonic membranes and evaluated histopathologically with haematoxylin eosin dye for 15 s and washed with distilled water. An embryological development within twelve stages as classified by Hamburger and Hamilton (1951) was obtained. When compared with the control group, the width of the neural tube of the embryos was modified with all Riparin III concentrations. Longer somites resulted from the 50 and 100 μg/ml Riparina III concentrations. The function of the structures was preserved. This drug can potentially be used in pregnant women as an anxiolytic and for treating depression.

Key words: Aniba Riparia, depression, Riparin III, chicken embryo, neural tube defect.