Autoradiographic and cytological study of blastodermal cells in turkey eggs subjected to extended pre-incubation storage.

Abstract

An autoradiographic and cytological study involved blastoderms of Broad Breasted Bronze turkey eggs subjected to storage up to 21 days at 13° C. and 80% relative humidity. In one phase of the study, the blastoderms were treated with tritiated thymidine during storage; in the other phase, the blastoderms were first stored, then treated with T-H3 and, finally, incubated for 10 hours at 37.5° C. Results indicate that: 1. The frequency of mitotic and necrotic cells in the blastoderms increased during pre-incubation storage. 2. Nuclei, labeled with T-H3, were found present in the blastoderms exposed to the isotope, both during and after storage. 3. The "aged" blastoderms, when incubated for 10 hours, showed a high incidence of necrotic nuclei, of nuclear fragmentation, of mitotic irregularity, and a decreased frequency of labeling with T-H3. The conclusions reached are that: 1. The turkey blastoderm is physiologically active during extended storage at 13° C.: it exhibits evidence of some DNA synthesis and of undergoing limited mitosis. 2. The accumulation of cells blocked at metaphase during storage may be a major factor responsible for the subsequent moribundity of such blastoderms.