EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED MALFORMATIONS IN T HE CHICK-EMBRYOS (GALLUS-GALLUS) USING ALCOHOL INFUSIONS

The teratogenic effect of alcohol on chick embryos has been confirmed by many investigators. However, how this occurs is unknown. The aim of this study was to establish a teratogenic pattern of alcohol effects, on the first stages of development in avians. Fertilized eggs were in fused through the air space of the shell on day 0, with ethanol in con centrations of 20%, 40% and 60%. The control group was infused with 0. 1 mi of NaCl at 0.9%. At a second stage, the eggs were treated on the 4th day of incubation, using the same method. In both groups the eggs were removed on the 11th day of incubation. The teratological manifest ations that appeared more frequently were evisceration, haemorrhagic e mbryos, oedema, cranial deformities, lack of eyes, and umbilical herni a, showing every embryo a clear reduction in size and body weight.