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Effect of ethanol vapour exposure on survival of chick embryos
Kiran Kamran1, M Yunus Khan, Liaqat Ali Minhas
1Department of Anatomy, Foundation University Medical College, Rawalpindi. drkirankamran@gmail.com
Objective:
To determine the survival of chick embryos after ethanol vapour exposure by noting the number of dead and alive embryos and comparing with age-matched controls.
Study Design:
Experimental study.
Place And Duration Of Study:
Department of Anatomy at the regional centre of College of Physicians and Surgeons, Islamabad, from February 2006 to February 2007.
Methodology:
Chicken eggs, placed in an incubator, were exposed to ethanol vapours produced through a specially designed vapour chamber. The experimental group was dissected on day 7, day 10 and day 22 or hatching whichever was earlier and compared with age-matched controls. The proportion of ethanol vapours in the incubator was monitored with a breathalyzer.
Results:
No statistical difference was seen in the survival of day 7 alcohol-exposed embryos and their age-matched controls. The survival of day 10-control embryos was significantly higher than alcohol exposed group of same age. The embryos exposed to ethanol vapours from day 1 to day 10 and then followed till hatching or day 22, whichever was earlier, had significantly lower survival than age-matched controls.
Conclusion:
In this study, ethanol vapour exposure decreased embryo survival with increasing embryonic age and increased duration of exposure.

