Abstract: Abstract Objective: To investigate the role of BRE gene expressed in neural tube on early somites development of chicken embryos. Methods: The general experimental procedure in the following: The microinjection was performed to introduce BRE gene plasmid into the HH10 neural tube of chicken embryo. Subsequently in vivo electroporation method was carried on to transfect BRE-GFP gene in hemi-neural tube, while another side of the nueral tube and somites acted as the control side. And then overnight incubation were applied for those transfected embryos. Finally In situ hybridization and immunofluorescence were employed to check the gene expression and the somites development in both sides. Results: BRE gene express in neural plate, neural tube and somite, indicating it might act as modulator in the neurulation and somitogenesis. Surprisedly over-expression of BRE gene resulted in accelerating the formation and differentiation of somites rather than significant phenotype in neural tube, which was dramatically demonstrated by dorsal neural tube and somite marker, PAX7 expression after comparing the BRE-GFP hemi-neural tube transfection with the control side. FGF8 is a well-known gene involved in segmentation during embryonic development, however no FGF-8 abnormal expression appeared after over-expressing BRE. Conclusion: The over-expression of BRE gene can promote the formation and differentiation of somites, which suggests that the mechanism might relevent to PAX7.

Key words: Neural tube, Somite, BRE, PAX7, FGF8