Accelerated loss of motor neurons in the brachial lateral motor column in muscular dystrophic chicks

We have examined the development of the brachial lateral motor column in White Leghorn chickens that are homozygous for muscular dystrophy. We found an accelerated loss of motor neurons between days 6 and 11 in ovo in the dystrophic embryos such that at the end of this time they had only 80% of the population in age-matched controls. After day 11 in ovo the rate of motor neuron loss was the same in both normal and dystrophic birds.To determine …