FAT METABOLISM OF THE CHICK EMBRYO UNDER STANDARD CONDITIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION

Abstract

The experimental data on a fresh egg show that the amount of fat varies with the size of the egg, and that the I and saponification numbers and refractive index of the fat are almost constant values under a given experimental condition. With incubation the fat content of the embryo increased and that of the egg yolk decreased; thus the total fat diminished by the equivalent of the burned fat. The rate of combustion of fat was greatest at the end of 17 days of incubation. Iodine and saponification numbers and refractive index of the fat from yolk sac were practically constant. The fat from the embryo showed noticeably increasing value of the I number and decreasing value of the refractive index.