Development of heart rate rhythmicity in Muscovy duck embryos

The heart rate (HR) of Muscovy duck embryos (Cairina moschata f. domestica) was continuously recorded from as early as the 21st day of incubation (D21) until hatching (D34/35). The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of phonoperiods consisting of different acoustic stimuli on the course of HR and the development of HR periodicities during this period. Incubation was carried out at a constant temperature and in constant darkness. Until D25 HR was dominated by decelerative fluctuations only, indicating a main input from the parasympathetic system on the heart. Later sympathetic influences increased progressively. HR periodicity was investigated by means of chi 2-periodogram and fast Fourier transformation. Between D26 and D30 statistically significant and stable HR periodicities developed gradually. They had periods in the range from 5 to 38 h. Ultra-, circa- and infradian rhythms (< 20, 24 +/- 4 and > 28 h, respectively) occurred in parallel in some cases in the same embryo. The for the HR course important periods were dissimilar between individual embryos and had different intensities. There was no indication that acoustic stimulation (phonoperiods) had any effect on the development of HR periodicities.