| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2006 | Volume
: 54
| Issue : 2 | Page : 178--181 |
The effects of high dose progesterone on neural tube development in early chick embryos
Erdincler Pamir1, Dalgic Ali1, Cepni Ismail2, Erkan Sanli2, Kafadar Ali1, Tasyurekli Mustafa3
1 Departments of Neurosurgery, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey
2 Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey
3 Departments of Histology and Embryology, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey
Correspondence Address:
Erkan Sanli
Kizilelma Caddesi, No: 35/1, Fatih, 34300, Istanbul
Turkey
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
PMID: 16804264 
Background: Although folic acid deficiency is known to be one of the factors in the development of spina bifida and other neural tube defects (NTD) the exact pathophysiology still remains unclear. Progesterone is an endogenous hormone which increases significantly during pregnancy. Aims: We aimed to study the possible negative effects of high dose progesterone on neural tube development in early chick embryos. In order to test our hypothesis, early chick embryos were exposed to physiological saline, normal and high doses of progesterone. Settings and Design: 160 fertile, specific pathogen free white leghorn eggs (Gallus gallus), all at stage eight of development were divided into four equal groups. Materials and Methods: The first group was incubated without any operation. The second group was injected with physiological saline. The third and fourth groups were injected with two and twenty times more than physiologic doses of progesterone respectively. After 48 hours of incubation, all embryos were analyzed for the presence of NTDs under light microscopy. Statistical Analysis Used: None. Results: At 48 hours of incubation, 84% (135/160) of the embryos passed characteristics of Stage 12 development and were included to the study. None of the eggs in the first three groups showed NTDs, whereas 81.8% (27/33) of the eggs in the fourth group showed NTDs. Conclusions: Our study showed that progesterone at levels twenty times more than its physiologic level might cause NTDs. Further studies are needed to explain the mechanisms of this teratogenic effect.
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