Background: impairment of retinoic acid (RA) results in different malformations during embryonic development. Citral can interfere with the embryogenesis due to its direct inhibitory effect on RA.Purpose: is to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of citral on the skeletal elements of the developing chick embryo. Methods: Fertilized eggs of the chick Gallus domesticus were divided into control and experimental groups which received either three different concentrations of citral (50 μM, 100 μM and 200 μM). Results:treatment with citral caused several cases of scoliosis, absence of ossification in the skeletal system, deformed parrot beak, short and wry necks. Alizarin transparencies detected curvatures of the vertebral column at the cervical region.Conclusion:It is suggested that citral treatment in the present work caused inhibition of RA which might disrupt the expression of some genes, such as BMPs, Fgf8, Msx1 and Msx2 resulting in induction of morphological malformations. Citral induced morphological malformation in a concentration dependent manner. Cosmetics, food stuffs, detergents, flavoring agents and scenting agents that contain retinoic acid or citral are not recommended for ladies during the first trimester of pregnancy.
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