An In-Ovo Longitudinal -Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Quail Eggs and Embryonic Development

Suzanne Louise Duce¹

Avian embryos are important models for understanding embryonic development. We undertook a 3D longitudinal μMRI study using 7.1T Bruker of quail eggs imaged daily for 8 days, changes in the extra- and non-embryonic components as well as in the embryo were studied. At Day 0 the yolk, albumen, latebra and chalaza are visible, additional aqueous region is visible from Day 2. The growth of the embryo in-ovo is visualised. The 3D surface reconstructions of the embryo, yolk, albumen, embryonic fluid, and latebra were produced, their respective volumes calculated and changes over time presented graphically.