Scanning electron microscopic examination of cartilage in chicken embryos treated with the insecticide Wofatox 50 EC
Várnagy, L.; Déli, E.; Baumann, M.
Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 36(1-2): 117-121
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0236-6290 PMID: 3202045 Document Number: 307820
Fertile hen's eggs were treated with the insecticides Wofatox 50 EC (50% methyl-parathion) or Parathion 20 WP (latter as positive control material). The eggs were exposed by immersion technique before incubation or on the 4th day of the hatching period. Cartilage samples were taken out of the vertebrae (C1-7) and phalanges (P1-11) of control and treated (asymptomatic and deformed) embryos for scanning electron microscopy. The cartilage samples taken from the treated animals showed degeneration of collagen structure and chondrocytes at a high insecticide concentration (4.0%), whereas only retrogression of collagen substance was observed at a low concentration (0.4%). The results explain the development of kyphoscoliosis, cartilaginous fusion of vertebrae, and lordoscoliosis.