Effect of metilprednisolone on middle line closure in early chicken embryos

Objective: In this study, we aimed to show the effect of methylprednisolone, which has a wide indication as a corticosteroid agent in neurosurgery clinics, on midline closure in chick embryos at different doses. Method: This study was conducted in the Anatomy and Histology Laboratory of Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Hospital. It was carried out with the decision of Afyon Kocatepe University Animal Ethics Committee dated 06.05.2020 and numbered 49533702/257. 4 groups were formed by using 100 White Leghorn eggs (n = 25). Different doses of methylprednisolone were injected into the subblastodermic area. No agent was given to the control group. Embryos were kept in fixation solution for 72 hours and then placed on polylysin coated slides. Sections prepared in the appropriate procedure were subjected to AgNOR staining. The samples were evaluated under a light microscope using an image analysis system. 25 nuclear AgNOR protein images were evaluated per sample. The results were evaluated statistically. Results: When the groups were evaluated, it was observed that the midline closure defect increased in embryos with increasing doses of methylprednisolone. Conclusion: Methylprednisolone is thought to cause midline defects in chick embryos. However, further research is recommended