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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
Influenza Virus Propagation in Embryonated Chicken Eggs
Published on: March 19, 2015
STUDIES ON THE pH AND Eh OF NORMAL AND INFLUENZA-INFECTED EGGS
Insights
Influenza virus infection in embryonic eggs alters allantoic fluid. Infected eggs show stable pH and negative Eh potential, unlike normal eggs where these change with embryonic age.
Area of Science:
- Embryology
- Virology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The allantoic fluid's biochemical properties are crucial for embryonic development.
- Understanding how viral infections impact these properties is key to studying pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of influenza virus infection on the pH and Eh (oxidation-reduction potential) of embryonic allantoic fluid.
- To determine the relationship between embryonic age and these biochemical parameters in both infected and non-infected eggs.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of pH and Eh values in the allantoic fluid of developing chicken embryos.
- Comparison between embryos infected with influenza virus and non-infected control embryos.
- Analysis of data in relation to embryonic age (11-17 days).
Main Results:
- Non-infected eggs showed a significant age-dependent drop in pH and a shift towards positive Eh potential.
- Influenza-infected eggs exhibited stable, near-neutral pH and predominantly negative Eh potential, independent of age.
- Viral infection markedly altered the reduction-oxidation state of the allantoic fluid.
Conclusions:
- Influenza virus infection significantly disrupts the normal biochemical environment of the allantoic fluid.
- The observed changes in pH and Eh suggest a state of reduction associated with virus multiplication.
- These findings highlight the impact of viral pathogenesis on host embryonic physiology.
Abstract:
1. pH values of allantoic fluids from non-infected eggs showed a rapid drop from the 12th to the 17th day of embryonic development. A definite age-pH relationship was shown to exist. 2. The allantoic fluid of eggs infected with influenza virus, contrasting with the non-infected eggs, revealed pH values which remained relatively stable about the neutral point at any age between 11 and 17 days. No relationship between pH and age could be established, in the infected series. 3. The Eh value of the fluid from non-infected eggs also exhibited a significant relationship to embryonic age. The majority of the determinations revealed a positive potential. 4. Similar determination on influenza-infected eggs gave results of a predominantly negative potential, indicating a marked state of reduction accompanying virus multiplication. As with the pH determinations, the Eh values of infected eggs were not a function of their age.
