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Development of respiratory rhythms in perinatal chick embryos
Y Chiba1, A H Khandoker, M Nobuta
1Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, 050-8585, Muroran, Japan.
Summary
This study monitored chick embryo breathing during hatching using a microphone. Respiratory rhythms developed from irregular to regular patterns, revealing key stages of the pipping process.
Area of Science:
- Embryology
- Respiratory Physiology
- Bioacoustics
Background:
- Gas exchange in chick embryos transitions from the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) to lungs near hatching.
- The pipping period, encompassing internal pipping (IP) to hatching, is critical for respiratory adaptation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental patterns of respiratory rhythms in chick embryos throughout the entire pipping period.
- To characterize the emergence and regularization of breathing signals during embryonic hatching.
Main Methods:
- A condenser-microphone system was attached to the eggshell to record acoustocardiograms and acoustorespirograms (ARG).
- Signals were analyzed to determine the onset, irregularity, and eventual regularization of respiratory rhythms.
- A specialized procedure was used to create breathing envelope patterns, eliminating noise.
Main Results:
- The first lung ventilation signals appeared irregularly after internal pipping (IP), approximately every 5 seconds.
- Respiratory rhythms gradually became more regular throughout the perinatal period.
- The average durations were: IP (14.1±6.4 h), external pipping (EP) (13.6±4.0 h), and the whole perinatal period (27.6±5.4 h).
- Embryonic hatching activity (climax) lasted approximately 48±19 minutes.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully elucidated the development of respiratory rhythms during the chick embryo's pipping period.
- Acoustic monitoring provides a non-invasive method to study embryonic respiratory development and hatching dynamics.