Question

 

Neural tube defects are abnormalities that occur in the brain or spinal cord of a developing embryo and are present at birth. Each year, approximately 1500 babies are born with spina bifida. (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2013). Research neural tube defects and answer the following questions:

Where is neural tube closure initiated and how does it proceed?

What week in gestation is the process completed?

What are the different types of neural tube defects and how can most be prevented?

What is the treatment for the various neural tube defects

What type of research is currently being done?

Answer 1

1) The initiation of neural tube closure initiates at the region of the embryo which later on forms the future cervical region. It is a continuous proceeds that proceeds both rostrally and caudally.

2) The process of rostral and caudal neural tube closure completes in between 3-4 weeks of gestation. The rostral neuropore closes on the 25th day of gestation whereas, the caudal closes on the 28th day.

3) There are several types of neural defects. Prominent among them are,

a) Spina bifida (Types- spina bifida occulata, closed neural tube defect, meningocele, and myelomeningocele)

b) Anencephaly

c) Encephalocele

d) Iniencephaly

Neural tube closure defects can be prevented by a supplementation of folic acid (0.4 mg) during the periconception period.

4) There is no treatment for Anencephaly and Iniencephaly. They are mostly fatal.

Spina bifida treatment depends on the severity of the condition and also on the presence of any other complication. The different ways of treating this type are as follows,

a) by surgically closing the hole in the back of the brain before birth or shortly after birth.

b) water accumulation in the brain as a result of Spina bifida can be removed by draining it with a hollow tube.

c) surgically separating the spinal cord from the neighbouring tissues.

d) using medications, injections, surgery, etc to tackle the problem of incontinence which is often encountered as a result of nerve damage.

e) using rehabilitative techniques to manage the disabities induced by Spina bifida.

Encephalocele is usually be treated surgically.

5) The research on neural tube defects (NTD) currently focuses on the following aspects,

a) Role of folic acid and vitamin B12 in NTDs.

b) Changes brought about in embryo development by folic acid.

c) Embryo development in presence of folic acid.

d) Genetic, non-genetic, and environmental factors associated with NTDs.

e) Study of genes related to folic acid.

f) Role of PCP (Plans Cell Polarity) genes in neural closure.