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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
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Assay for Neural Induction in the Chick Embryo
Published on: February 13, 2009
Effects of Nimodipine on Neural Tube Development in Early Chick Embryos
İhsan Canbek1, Emre Atay2, Fatma Fırat3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye.
Birth Defects Research
|July 25, 2026
Summary
Nimodipine, used for subarachnoid hemorrhage, delays neural tube closure in developing chick embryos by affecting cell proliferation and apoptosis. This study reveals potential risks during early embryonic development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Nimodipine is a calcium channel blocker used for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- Its mechanism of action, particularly during pregnancy and neural tube development, is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of nimodipine on neural tube development in early embryos.
- To explore nimodipine's impact on cell proliferation and apoptosis during embryogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Specific pathogen-free (SPF) White Leghorn eggs were used, divided into control and three nimodipine dose groups.
- Nimodipine was administered subblastodermicly after 28 hours of incubation.
- Embryos were analyzed for morphology, histopathology, cell proliferation (PCNA), and genetic markers at 48 hours.
Main Results:
- Nimodipine significantly delayed neural tube patency in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.001).
- Crown-rump length and somite number were significantly reduced with increasing nimodipine doses.
- Nimodipine decreased PCNA (proliferation marker) and increased caspase-3 (apoptosis marker) dose-dependently.
Conclusions:
- Nimodipine exposure delays neural tube closure in chick embryos.
- This delay is attributed to suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, impacting neurogenesis and early development.
