Employment of the Embryonic Duck Heart for the Detection of Minute Amounts of a Digitalis Glycoside (Lanatoside G)

Abstract

The embryonic duck heart obtained from eggs incubated for 88-92 hrs. was extraordinarily sensitive to the digitalis glycoside employed. Thus, in the presence of as little as 0.00005 mg. of glycoside/ml., the embryonic heart began to exhibit auriculoventricular block. The occurrence of this type of block was used as an indicator for the presence and quantitation of digitalis glycoside. A comparison of the duck heart with the chick heart indicated that the former was more reliable and much more sensitive. The embryonic duck heart assay is believed to be the most sensitive indicator for the presence of glycoside now extant.