Growth of the chick embryo in vitro

An improved technique is described for in vitro culture of the chick embryo from three days through 21 days of total incubation (three days in shell plus 18 days in culture). Mean survival time for cultured embryos is 18 days of total incubation, and mean morphological stage is Hamburger-Hamilton stage 41 (15 days). Mean measurements of wet weight, dry weight, and right third toe length for stage 45 (partial or complete abdominal yolk sac retraction, 19-20 days) cultured embryos are comparable with corresponding means for stage 42-43 (16-17 days) embryos from control intact eggs. Possible causes of growth retardation in vitro are briefly discussed.