Distribution of blastodermal cells transferred to chick embryos for chimera production using windowed eggs

Abstract

1. To improve the production of chimeras, the distribution of donor blastodermal cells after transferring into recipient embryos was examined morphologically.

2. Donor blastodermal cells were distributed near the site of injection in the epiblast and in the subgerminal cavity and yolk. Some filled the hole made by the micropipette and were distributed outside the epiblast. Many were buried in yolk. In some cases, more donor blastodermal cells were located in the yolk than in the subgerminal cavity and some were located 800 μm below the under‐surface of the epiblast.

3. It is recommended that injection should be as shallow as possible to increase the proportion of chimeras produced, and that some means is needed to prevent blastodermal cells from escaping from the hole produced by injection.