Modification of the in ovo-method for the determination of the antihaemorrhagic activity of plant extracts. Short communication.

Up to now there has been only a method availabe for testing the antihaemorr hagic activity of plant extracts, in which chicken embryos had to be transf erred to a special container on the fifth day of incubation. Furthermore, t he test could not be conducted on the extraembryonal circulatory system unt il two days later. In the test method described here the embryos remain ins ide the egg. After removal of the eggshell through the air cell and removal of the inner shell membrane, direct access to the extraembryonal circulato ry system is possible, minimising external influences on the test system. T his represents a dramatic simplification in technique and permits testing a lready on the fourth day of incubation. The application of this method to d etermine the antihaemorrhagic properties of samples has the advantage of pe rmitting the simple and quick production of haemorrhages by snake venom on the yolk sac circulatory system.