Development in culture of the chick embryo from cleavage to hatch

Abstract

1. Early uterine embryos were obtained from hens by induced oviposition 7.5–5.0 h after the preceding egg was laid. They were cultured in vitro and then in recipient shells to hatch. As controls, embryos from freshly laid eggs were cultured in recipient shells to hatch.

2. For embryos cultured from uterine eggs, the hatch rate was 22.5%, and for embryos cultured from laid eggs, the hatch rate was 62.5%.

3. The weight of the chicks hatched from culture was about 60% of the weight of the preceding egg, or donor egg. Male and female chicks reached maturity and have produced viable offsprings.

4. The results show that it is possible to grow chick embryos in culture from the early cleavage stage (stage II) to hatch. They extend earlier findings on the culture of embryos from the blastoderm stage (Stage X) to hatch. The technique provides a basis for investigations on chick embryo cryopreservation.