Cadmium affects the development of somites in chick embryos (Gallus gallus domesticus) under in vitro conditions

Abstract

Cadmium is one of the most toxic metals that has high environmental stability and can hardly be converted into substancesof low toxicity. In the present study, the effects of cadmium on the development of somites of chick embryos under in vitro conditionswere investigated. First, fertilized eggs were incubated until they reached the stage of 15–20 somites. The embryos were then separatedfrom the yolk by using the window technique. The somites were separated by insulin needles under a stereomicroscope. The separatedsomites were then transferred to Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) stock culture and treated with different concentrationsof cadmium nitrate (0, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 ng/mL). After 72 h, the diameter of the nucleus, cell morphology, and extracellularmatrix compounds were examined. Our results indicated that cadmium disrupted the developmental process of the somites. Themicroscopic studies of the somites, based on a histological technique, indicated that cadmium induced apoptosis in somite cells andalso decreased the chondrogenesis and collagen synthesis. Therefore, somites are considered suitable temporary embryonic organs andinteresting models for basic developmental study under in vitro conditions. Moreover, it might be possible to use somites in vitro forstudying the effects of trace elements on living organisms.