UNSW Embryology

Chicken Early Development

© Dr Mark Hill (2008)

Acknowledgements

Introduction

This current page introduces concepts of early chick embryo development.

Page Links: Introduction | Primitive Streak | Mesoderm | Neural Tube | 56 hours | 12 days | Web Links | References |

Primitive Streak

Hamburger & Hamilton Stage 4 (15 hours)

Ohta K, Kuriyama S, Okafuji T, Gejima R, Ohnuma S, Tanaka H.    [See Related Articles] Tsukushi cooperates with VG1 to induce primitive streak and Hensen's node formation in the chick embryo. Development. 2006 Oct;133(19):3777-86.

Ohta K, Lupo G, Kuriyama S, Keynes R, Holt CE, Harris WA, Tanaka H, Ohnuma S.    [See Related Articles] Tsukushi functions as an organizer inducer by inhibition of BMP activity in cooperation with chordin. Dev Cell. 2004 Sep;7(3):347-58.

Psychoyos D, Stern CD.    [See Related Articles] Fates and migratory routes of primitive streak cells in the chick embryo. Development. 1996 May;122(5):1523-34.

• This study used dyes to track the migration of cells in the early chick embryo stage 3+ (mid-primitive streak) to stage 9 (8 somites) and their eventual fate.
• Tracking labelled cells shows that presumptive notochord, foregut and medial somite originate from both Hensen's node and also the anterior primitive streak. The paper also shows the primitive streak contribution to the somites (medial and lateral halves).
• Somite and notochord precursors migrate anteriorly within the streak and pass through different parts of the node.

Mesoderm

Hamburger & Hamilton Stage 9 (31 hours 8 somite)

Huang R, Zhi Q, Ordahl CP, Christ B.    [See Related Articles] The fate of the first avian somite. Anat Embryol (Berl). 1997 May;195(5):435-49.

Christ B, Ordahl CP.    [See Related Articles] Early stages of chick somite development. Anat Embryol (Berl). 1995 May;191(5):381-96.

• There are usually 44 pairs of somites and the table below indicates the levels that contribute to the fore- and hindlimb in chicken and mouse.
• This paper is an excellent review of somite development in general.

Species	Forelimb	Hindlimb
Chick	15 - 20	26 - 32
Mouse	8 - 14	27 - 34

Neural Tube

Hamburger & Hamilton Stage 10 (33 hours)

Afman LA, Blom HJ, Drittij MJ, Brouns MR, van Straaten HW.    [See Related Articles] Inhibition of transmethylation disturbs neurulation in chick embryos. Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 2005 Aug 8;158(1-2):59-65.

Van Straaten HW, Janssen HC, Peeters MC, Copp AJ, Hekking JW.    [See Related Articles] Neural tube closure in the chick embryo is multiphasic. Dev Dyn. 1996 Nov;207(3):309-18.

• This paper describes how closure of the neural tube occurs in the chicken embryo.
• First closure occurs at 4-6 somite stage at the level of the future mesencephalon, then at the rhombocervical level at 6-7 somite stage as multisite contacts.
• Appears as if the somites may contribute to the "zipper like" multicontacts formed during initial closure at the spinal cord level.
• This multisite closure also occurs in mammals.
• The posterior neuropore closes in 2 steps at 10-14 somite stage and finally at stage 18.

Hamburger & Hamilton Stage 16-17 (56 hours)

Features

Hamburger & Hamilton Stage 38 (12 days)

Features

• Eyelids- Opening between lids is much reduced. Lower eyelid covers 2/3-3/4 of corna.
• Visceral (pharangeal) Arches- Labial groove marked off by deep furrow at the end of each jaw. Length of beak 3.1mm.
• Limbs- Primordia of scales are marked off over entire surface of leg.
• Feather-germs-

Web Links

Developmental Dynamics - Chicken Special Issue (2004) | Poster- Hamburger Hamilton Stages | Republished Hamburger Hamilton Stages Paper

Developmental Biology - Quail-Chick Chimeras Nicole Le Douarin pioneered the use of quail-chick chimeras to study the developmental fate of cells in the bird embryo.

Developmental Biology- Laurie Iten's Serially Sectioned Frog and Chick Embryos

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