QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ferguson, T. M. Articles by Couch, J. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ferguson, T. M. Articles by Couch, J. R.

Further Gross Observations on the B₁₂-Deficient Chick Embryo

Two Figures

Department of Poultry Husbandry, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College System, College Station

The characteristics of the B₁₂-deficient embryo as described by Olcese et al. ('50) have been confirmed. In addition, embryos produced from hens fed a diet low in vitamin B₁₂ were found to have an enlarged thyroid, hemorrhages in the yolk sac, a thin-walled digestive tract, and to be edematous. The muscles examined were small and tendinous. Of 291 embryos examined on the 17th day of incubation, 23% exhibited the typical B₁₂-deficiency symptoms as described by Olcese et al. ('50). A fatty liver or a pale, dilated, irregularshaped heart or both occurred in 55% of the cases and fatty kidneys were also observed. Parenteral injections of vitamin B₁₂ into hens maintained on the low-B₁₂ diet, or injections of vitamin B₁₂ into the eggs from these hens prior to incubation prevented the anomalies described.

Manuscript received 22 May 1954.