Prenatal Exposure to Hydroalcoholic Extract of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Seeds Alters DMRT1 and Inhibin Gene Expression and Sexually Dimorphic Nuclei Development in Gallus gallus domesticus

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Biology, Da.C., Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran

2 Department of Biology, Ma.C., Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of prenatal exposure to hydroalcoholic extract of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. seeds on the expression of sex-related genes and structural alterations of sexually dimorphic nuclei in Gallus gallus domesticus. Forty-six fertilized chicken eggs were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. On embryonic day 2 (E2), eggs were windowed under sterile conditions, and on embryonic day 12 (E12), experimental groups received a single intra-amniotic injection of F. vulgare extract (140 mg/kg), whereas control groups received physiological saline. After hatching, 38 chicks were included in molecular and histological analyses. The hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and gonads were collected for RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and quantitative real-time PCR analysis of DMRT1 and Inhibin gene expression. Histological evaluation of hypothalamic sexually dimorphic nuclei was performed using toluidine blue staining and stereological analysis. Prenatal administration of F. vulgare extract significantly decreased DMRT1 expression in male experimental chicks compared with male controls, while Inhibin expression showed significant alterations in treated groups. Histological examination revealed changes in the size, neuronal density, and organization of sexually dimorphic nuclei in the hypothalamus, particularly in male chicks. These findings indicate that prenatal exposure to phytoestrogen-rich F. vulgare extract may interfere with endocrine regulation and neural sexual differentiation in chickens. Further studies are required to clarify the molecular mechanisms involving estrogen signaling pathways and long-term reproductive and behavioral consequences.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-products
Volume 16, Issue 2
March and April 2027
Pages 136-143

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