Abstract
Objective: To determine the survival of chick embryos after ethanol vapour exposure by noting the number of dead and alive embryos and comparing with age-matched controls.
Study Design: Experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy at the regional centre of College of Physicians and Surgeons, Islamabad, from February 2006 to February 2007.
Methodology: Chicken eggs, placed in an incubator, were exposed to ethanol vapours produced through a specially designed vapour chamber. The experimental group was dissected on day 7, day 10 and day 22 or hatching whichever was earlier and compared with age-matched controls. The proportion of ethanol vapours in the incubator was monitored with a breathalyzer.
Results: No statistical difference was seen in the survival of day 7 alcohol-exposed embryos and their age-matched controls. The survival of day 10-control embryos was significantly higher than alcohol exposed group of same age. The embryos exposed to ethanol vapours from day 1 to day 10 and then followed till hatching or day 22, whichever was earlier, had significantly lower survival than age-matched controls.
Conclusion: In this study, ethanol vapour exposure decreased embryo survival with increasing embryonic age and increased duration of exposure.