A method for recording chick embryo electrocardiogram using the IX-TA 220 electrocardiogram recording system

ABSTRACT

1. In developmental embryology in chickens, the cardiovascular system is the first to become functional, the first heart muscular contraction (beat) happens as early as 33 h of incubation of a developmental journey that takes 21 d.

2. An electrocardiogram (ECG) recording system (IX-TA 220) has been used to record the ECG of various species. The following trial describes the use of such a system for recording electrical tracing of the developing heart in chick embryos on d 19 of embryonic development with the electrodes piercing the eggshell in specific locations to a depth of about 2 mm. The recorded ECG offers an opportunity to measure or calculate ECG parameters like those measured/calculated in humans.

3. The use of anaesthesia substantially reduced embryo motion, but may have a transient tachycardia effect on heart rate.

4. This is the first time such a system has been successfully used for measuring heart electrical activities in chick embryos and provides a broader research opportunity in chicken embryo cardio-physiology.

KEYWORDS:

• Embryology
• chick embryo
• electrocardiogram
• medetomidine
• heart rate
• IX-TA

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Ashish More and Judi D’Aleo (iWorx Systems, Inc.) for their support of the LabScribe software.

Availability of data and material

All relevant raw data are as shown in the manuscript and are also available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work received no external public or commercial funding.