The Methodology of Determining TRα Expression in Avian Embryos Following Induced Maternal Hyperthyroidism

Carson L. Corrick*, Hannah M. Ankrom*, Holly L. Racine
Department of Biology, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV 26074

Presentation Category: Biological Sciences (Poster Presentation)

Student’s Major: Human Biology

Maternal hyperthyroidism increases bone growth in utero which can lead to the development of craniosynostosis (CS), the premature fusion of cranial sutures. The mechanism for this is unknown. To understand this pathway, thyroid hormone (TH) and saline was injected into the air space of fertilized chicken eggs from E4 to E18 and embryos were harvested on E19. Our hypothesis was that we would see an increase in TH activity following TH injections, signified by an increase of thyroid hormone receptor-alpha (TRα) expression in cranial tissue. However, our injection regimen resulted in 90% of the saline embryos surviving, whereas the TH-injected embryos had a 100% mortality rate. We speculate that the embryos injected with TH did not survive due to underdevelopment of the regulatory system at the time of injection since the thyroid gland does not develop in chicken embryos until E10. For further expansion of the study, eggs will be injected following thyroid gland development to determine the effects of the TH on cranial tissues. Existing saline-injected eggs serve as controls for examining TRα expression.

Funding: NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Grant #80NSSC20M0055

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: a West Virginia SURE program