2011 Lab 3 - Abnormalities

From Embryology
2011 Lab 3: Introduction | Week 3 | Week 4 | Abnormalities | Online Assessment | Group Project

Neural Abnormalities

Australian Birth Statistics
Neural tube defect - Meningomyelocele
Mouse mutant showing neural tube closure defect
Links: Neural System - Abnormalities | Folic Acid and Neural Tube Defects

Neural Tube Defects (NTD)

  • Failure of neural tube closure either incorrectly or incomplete.
  • Dysraphism is the term often used to describe the defective fusion of the neural folds. The position and degree of failure of fusion will result in either embryonic death or a range of different neural defects. The way (mode) in which the human neural tube fuses has been a source of contention. In humans, fusion appears to initiate at multiple sites but the mode is different from that found in many animal models used in developmental studies. Severity dependent upon level within the tube and degree of failure (caudal - spina bifida; cranial - anancephaly)

Maternal Diet - Folate

Folatefruit.jpg Folate.jpg

Research demonstrated that that supplementation of maternal diet with folate reduces incidence of NTDs (More? Abnormal Development - Folic Acid and Neural Tube Defects)

UK

A randomised controlled trial conducted by the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom demonstrated a 72% reduction in risk of recurrence by periconceptional (ie before and after conception) folic acid supplementation (4mg daily).

USA

Women who have one infant with a neural tube defect have a significantly increased risk of recurrence (40-50 per thousand compared with 2 per thousand for all births)

USA spina bifida rates USA anencephaly rates

  • Food and Drug Administration (USA) in 1996 authorized that all enriched cereal grain products be fortified with folic acid, with optional fortification beginning in March 1996 and mandatory fortification in January 1998. The data in the above graphs show the subsequent changes in anencephaly and spina bifida rate over that period.

Australia

  • NHMRC policy statement (1993) emphasises the need for women who are capable of getting pregnant, or who are planning a pregnancy to be advised about folate and the importance of increasing folate intake to 0.4 - 0.5mg daily.
  • Food Standards (FSANZ) had allowed industry two years to prepare to add folic acid to wheat flour used in making bread. Wheat flour will contain folic acid by 13 September 2009.

Links: Victoria - Folate information for health professionals | NHMRC - Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended Dietary Intakes | NHMRC - Iodine supplementation for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women


Embryo Stages and Events

Day Stage Event
22
Stage 10 Stage10 dorsal1.jpg Stage10-dorsal2.jpg

Neural System Development

  • neural folds begin to fuse near the junction between brain and spinal cord
  • rostral neural tube forms 3 primary brain vesicles (week 4)

Neural Crest Development

  • differentiation at spinal cord level from day 22 until day 26
  • cells are arising mainly from the neural ectoderm
  • trigeminal, facial, and postotic ganglia components visible PMID: 17848161
  • migration of vagal level neural crest cells begins (7-10 somite stage)

Respiratory System Development

  • Week 4 - laryngotracheal groove forms on floor foregut
23
  Heart begins to beat in humans by day 22-23, first functioning embryonic organ formed.
24
Stage 11 Stage11 bf1c.jpg

Thyroid thyroid median endodermal thickening in the floor of pharynx

Neural System Development rostral (or cephalic) neuropore closes within a few hours; closure is bidirectional, it takes place from the dorsal and terminal lips and may occur in two areas simultaneously. The two lips, however, behave differently.

Optic ventricle appears

25
Stage 12 Stage12 bf1c.jpg

Pituitary Week 4 hypophysial pouch, Rathke’s pouch, diverticulum from roof

GIT - Liver septum transversum forming liver stroma and hepatic diverticulum forming hepatic trabeculae PMID: 9407542

Neural System Development caudal neuropore takes a day to close (closure is approximately at future somitic pair 31/sacral vertebra 2)

Neural System Development secondary neurulation begins

Neural Crest Development cardiac crest, neural crest from rhombomeres 6 and 7 that migrates to pharyngeal arch 3 and from there the truncus arteriosus PMID: 17848161

Neural Crest Development vagal neural crest enter the foregut (20-25 somite stage)

26
   
27
   
28
Stage 13 Stage13 bf1c.jpgNeural System Development the neural tube is normally completely closed, ventricular system now separated from amniotic fluid. Neural crest at spinal level is segregating, and spinal ganglia are in series with the somites. Spinal cord ventral roots beginning to develop. PMID: 3354839

telencephalon cavity appears

GIT - Liver epithelial cord proliferation enmeshing stromal capillaries PMID: 9407542

Sense - Smell Crest comes from the nasal platesPMID: 15604533

Skin 4 weeks - simple ectoderm epithelium over mesenchyme

Skin 1-3 months ectoderm- germinative (basal) cell repeated division of generates stratified epithelium; mesoderm- differentiates into connective tissue and blood vessels

2011 Lab 3: Introduction | Week 3 | Week 4 | Abnormalities | Online Assessment | Group Project

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, March 19) Embryology 2011 Lab 3 - Abnormalities. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/2011_Lab_3_-_Abnormalities

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