A STUDY OF THE TERATOGENIC EFFECTS OF OPENING A WINDOW IN THE SHELL OF THE HEN'S EGG AT 24 HOURS OF INCUBATION

Abstract

A window of about 1 sq. cm in area was cut in the shell of eggs of the domestic hen and the shell membrane removed at about 24 hours of incubation. The square of shell was replaced and sealed with paraffin. The eggs were incubated for a further 24 hours. At that time a large number of the embryos had developed characteristic abnormalities of the central nervous system. These abnormalities result from failure to close of the neural folds and are described by the term acleiencephaly.