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Cardiac output distribution in the chick embryo from stage 36 to 45
T L Mulder1, J C van Golde, F W Prinzen
1Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Maastricht, Netherlands. amul@skin.azm.nl
Insights
Chick embryos demonstrate cardiac output distribution similar to mammalian fetuses, supporting their use in perinatal cardiovascular research. This study tracked blood flow changes throughout incubation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Comparative physiology
- Cardiovascular research
Background:
- Mammalian fetal cardiac output distribution is well-documented.
- Chick embryos are underutilized in perinatal cardiovascular research.
- Understanding cardiac output in avian embryos is crucial for comparative studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document cardiac output distribution in chick embryos.
- To assess the suitability of chick embryos as a model for perinatal cardiovascular research.
- To analyze changes in blood flow distribution during embryonic development.
Main Methods:
- Microsphere-based cardiac output analysis in chick embryos (days 10-19).
- Catheterization of the chorioallantoic membrane vein for injection.
- Organ dissection and fluorescence analysis for microsphere quantification.
Main Results:
- The chorioallantoic membrane (placenta equivalent) received a significant fraction of cardiac output (52.08%–40.95%).
- The heart and brain received smaller but increasing fractions of cardiac output over incubation.
- Blood flow distribution shifted from the chorioallantoic membrane and yolk-sac towards the heart and brain as development progressed.
Conclusions:
- Chick embryo cardiac output distribution closely resembles that of mammalian fetuses.
- The chick embryo presents a viable and attractive model for perinatal cardiovascular research.
- This study provides foundational data for using avian models in developmental cardiovascular studies.
Objective:
The distribution of cardiac output to different organs is well described in the mammalian fetus. Chick embryos are not often used in perinatal cardiovascular research and therefore it is not known whether they can serve as an animal model for this purpose. In this study we documented cardiac output distribution in chick embryos at increasing incubation time.
Methods:
Fertilized eggs from day 10 to 19 with an incubation time of 21 days were studied in 3 increasing incubation time groups (10-13, 14-16 and 17-19 days). For the experiment, the egg was placed in a holder in an incubator. The egg was opened at the air cell and a small vein of the chorioallantoic membrane was catheterized. Twenty thousand fluorescent 15 microns microspheres in 0.2 ml were injected. After 5 min, the embryo was sacrificed and the different organs were dissected and digested for microsphere isolation and subsequent fluorescence analysis.
Results:
The chorioallantoic membrane, which is the placenta equivalent of the chick embryo, received a relatively large fraction of the combined cardiac output: 52.08% (interquartile range [IQR] 12.67%) on days 10-13 and 40.95% (IQR 27.24%) on days 17-19. Relatively small fractions were distributed: to the heart 2.03% (IQR 1.58) on days 10-13 and 3.18% (IQR 1.95) on days 17-19, and to the brain 3.20% (IQR 1.80) on days 10-13 and 5.02% (IQR 3.39) on days 17-19. As incubation time advanced, the fraction of the combined cardiac output to the chorioallantoic membrane and yolk-sac decreased significantly in favor of the heart and brain.
Conclusion:
This distribution shows great similarity to the one found in the mammalian fetus. The chick embryo is an attractive model for perinatal cardiovascular research.