Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
05:37
Partial Lobular Hepatectomy: A Surgical Model for Morphologic Liver Regeneration
Published on: May 31, 2018
12.4K
Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Morphological, Histological, and Molecular View on Developing Chicken Liver
Lenka Luptakova1, Simona Dvorcakova1, Zuzana Demcisakova2
1Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Komenskeho 73, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia.
Toxics
|April 3, 2021
Summary
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) can harm developing chicken embryos, with higher volumes increasing mortality and malformations. Even low doses affect liver gene expression, suggesting a safe limit of up to 10 µL.
Area of Science:
- Developmental toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a common solvent for hydrophobic drugs.
- Its embryotoxic effects and safe dosage limits in developing organisms are not well-established.
- The developing chicken embryo liver is crucial for detoxification processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphological, histological, and molecular effects of various dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) volumes on developing chicken embryos.
- To determine the highest safe dose of DMSO that does not induce embryotoxicity or malformations.
- To analyze the impact of DMSO on liver structure and the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes.
Main Methods:
- Administration of 100% DMSO (5-50 µL) subgerminally on embryonic day 4 in chicken eggs.
- Assessment of embryotoxicity, mortality, malformations, and body weight.
- Histopathological examination of liver tissues.
- Quantitative analysis of CYP1A5, CYP3A37, and CYP3A80 gene expression via mRNA analysis.
Main Results:
- Embryo lethality and mortality increased with higher DMSO volumes, exceeding 33% above 35 µL.
- Decreased body weight and histological alterations (lipid droplets, dilated canaliculi/sinusoids) were observed with DMSO doses above 25 µL.
- Significant alterations in CYP gene expression were detected, with down-regulation at 5 µL and specific up-regulations at higher doses.
Conclusions:
- The highest safe dose of DMSO for chicken embryo development, considering morphological and histological effects, is up to 10 µL.
- Even the lowest tested DMSO volume (5 µL) significantly impacts hepatocyte function at the molecular level by down-regulating key CYP genes.
- DMSO's dose-dependent embryotoxic effects and molecular impacts necessitate careful consideration of its usage in developmental studies.
