Eur J Anat, 10 (3): 101-113 (2006)

Anatomical and histological anomalies in chick embryos from hens immunised to chick embryo soluble and foreign antigens

Juarez L., Rodriguez-Burgos A.

Unidad de Fetoproteínas, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain; Unidad de Fetoproteínas, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain

ABSTRACT The anatomical and histological alterations that affect chick embryos from hens immunized with antigens from chick embryos, but which are foreign to the immune system of the hen, are reported here for the first time. The importance of these antigens, the maternal antibodies that they induce, and the injuries that these produce in the embryo can clearly be seen in the results reported. These results, obtained by means of experimental immunization in hens, may also hypothetically take place in humans (women) through natural immunization because analogous antigens from the embryo cross her placenta. Thus 81 eggs of immunized hens were studied, of which 60 displayed morphologic alterations of diverse intensity, especially developmental delay and growth retardation. Of these, three embryos 57 pih, 4 and 7 pid were chosen for their delay in growth, during the period of organogenesis. Their anatomical alterations were studied and an exhaustive and qualitative histological analysis was carried out. Each section was compared with those of control embryos which underwent the same time of incubation or were at the same stage of development. Embryonic growth retardation was evident in the smallest size of the embryos but also there were developmental delay of some organs and cells. Among other striking anomalies, the following were observed: invasion of the neural crest cells into the mesencephalon and rombencephalon lumen; malformation of the infundibulum; disintegration of dermatomes and myotomes; a loose arrangement of mesenchymal tissue; a delay in the development of the heart and blood islands cells, etc. Some of the observed anomalies were related to birth defects that also affected other chicks in the same experiment, as published elsewhere.

Keywords: antigen, maternal antibody, animal experiment, animal tissue, article, cell invasion, chick embryo, controlled study, developmental disorder, growth retardation, hen, histopathology, immune system, immunization, infundibulum, innate immunity, mesencephalon, neural crest, nonhuman, organogenesis, pathological anatomy, rhombencephalon