EFFECT OF SELENIUM AGAINST NALUFIN INDUCED MORPHOLOGICAL AND ENDO-SKELETAL ABNORMALITIES IN CHICK EMBRYOS

Marwa N. Atallah,*, Gamal M. Badawy, Islam M. El-Garawani, Fatma S. Abdallah, Hend T. El-Borm

ABSTRACT

Opioids administration during pregnancy can affect the embryonic development and can lead to different malformations in the developing embryo such as growth retardation, spontaneous abortion, skeletal defects and many limb deformities. The present study aimed to determinate the possible hazard effects of the new generation opioid pain killer nalufin on the morphology and endo-skeletal system of the developing chick embryo. Another aim was to investigate the ameliorative role of selenium on these effects. The fertilized eggs of leghorn chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were in ovo injected with 0.2ml of either nalufin (20mg/egg, single dose) or selenium (0.1 mg/kg, single dose) or combined injection. The injection of nalufin resulted in increased mortality rate and reduction in lengths and weights of embryos with many malformations including omphalocele, limb deformities, head enlargement, scanty feather, exencephaly, short beak and subcutaneous hemorrhage. Furthermore, nalufin led to many endo-skeletal malformations in the skull, vertebral column, ribs, pubis, limbs, incomplete ossifications of the bones and decreased length of the long bones. The co-injection of selenium ameliorated the mentioned malformations induced by nalufin.

Keywords: Chick embryo; Nalufin; Opioids; Selenium; Endoskeleton; Teratogenicity; Morphology; Embryology.