Nakamura Yoshiaki, Nakane Yoshifumi, Tsudzuki Masaoki
Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.
Japanese Avian Bioresource Project Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.
Anim Sci J. 2019 Mar;90(3):353-365. doi: 10.1111/asj.13159. Epub 2019 Jan 17.
The blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chinensis), the smallest species of quail with short generation interval and excellent reproductive performance, is a potential avian research model. A normal series of skeletal development of avian embryos could be served as a reference standard in the fields of developmental biology and teratological testing as well as in the investigation of mutation with skeletal abnormalities and in the study of the molecular mechanisms of skeletal development through genome manipulation. Furthermore, ossification sequence shows a species-specific pattern and has potential utility in phylogeny. However, data on the skeletal development of blue-breasted quail embryos are scarce. Here, we established a series of normal stages for the skeletal development of blue-breasted quail embryos. Cartilage and ossified bones of blue-breasted quail embryos were stained blue and red with Alcian blue 8GX and Alizarin red S, respectively. The time and order of chondrification and calcification of their skeletons were documented every 24 hr from 3 to 17 days of incubation, and a 15-stage series of skeletal development was created. Moreover, a comparative study with the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) demonstrated that ossification sequence differed significantly between these two species.
蓝胸鹑（Coturnix chinensis）是鹌鹑中体型最小的物种，世代间隔短，繁殖性能优良，是一种潜在的鸟类研究模型。鸟类胚胎正常的骨骼发育序列可作为发育生物学、致畸学检测领域的参考标准，也可用于研究骨骼异常的突变以及通过基因组操作研究骨骼发育的分子机制。此外，骨化序列呈现出物种特异性模式，在系统发育中具有潜在用途。然而，关于蓝胸鹑胚胎骨骼发育的数据却很稀少。在此，我们建立了一系列蓝胸鹑胚胎骨骼发育的正常阶段。蓝胸鹑胚胎的软骨和骨化骨分别用阿尔新蓝8GX和茜素红S染成蓝色和红色。在孵化的第3至17天，每24小时记录一次其骨骼软骨化和钙化的时间及顺序，构建了一个包含15个阶段的骨骼发育序列。此外，与日本鹌鹑（Coturnix japonica）的比较研究表明，这两个物种的骨化序列存在显著差异。
