Effect of Local Changes to Shell Permeability on the Gas Exchange of the Avian Embryo
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Effect of local changes to shell permeability on the gas exchange of the avian embryo This thesis is presented for the completion of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Kerstin Wagner Deparhnent of Environmental Biology The University of Adelaide submitted: October 2000 Table of contents List of tables, plates and figures . ,V Tables..... ,V Plates V Figures VI Abstract.. X Declaration ........ XI Acknowledgment... XI l. lntroduct¡on .1 1.1 Gas exchange of the bird embryo ...... .1 1.2 Diffusionlpertusion inequality............. .3 1.3 Aims. .5 2. General Methods..... .6 2.1 Egg incubation................. .6 2.2 Measuring the conductance of the eggshell .6 2.3 Wax/orygen treatment..... .7 2.4 Waxlhole shell treatment .9 2.4. 1 lntroducing artificial pores .9 2.4.2 Experimental procedure .......... 10 2.5 Experimental groups 12 2.6 Respirometry...... 14 2.6.1 Measurement 14 2.6.2 Analysis of respirometric measurements ...... .. 15 3. Oxygen partial pressure under the eggshell 16 3.1 lntroduction ....... .16 3,2 Material and Methods 18 3.2.1 Components of the gas analysis technique........... .......... 1g 3.2.2 Oxygen partial pressure in the gas spaces of the chicken egg during the second half of incubation .......... .....20 3.2.3 A model for lateral diffusion..... 24 3.3 Resølfs... 26 3.3.1 Oxygen partial pressure in the gas spaces of the chicken egg during the second half of incubation .......... 3.3.1.1 Controleggs 3.3.1.2 Wax/hole eggs 3.3.24 model for lateral diffusion.. 3.3.2.1 Experiment 1 ........ 3.3.2.2 Experiment 2.......... 3.4 Discussíon........ 3.4.1 Oxygen partial pressure in the gas spaces of the chicken egg during the second half of incubation 33 3.4.2 A model for lateral diffusion 34 3.4.3 Formation of an oxygen gradient under war/hole treated eggshell .. 38 3.4.4 Conclusion ....... 41 4. Development of the chorioallantoic membrane......., ..42 4.1 Introduction....... ..42 4.2 Material and Methods ..45 4.2.1 Growth of the chorioallantoic membrane ..46 4.2.2 Density of pre- and post-capillary vessels.... ..48 4.2.3 Blood variables: haemogrobin, haematocrit and blood volume .... .. 50 4.2.3.1 Blood haemoglobin and haematocrit .. 50 4.2.3.2 Blood volume in the chorioattantoic membrane .. 50 4.2.4 Transmission electron microscopic analysis........... ..52 4.2.4.1 Selection and processing of samples........... ..52 4.2.4.2 lmaging... ..52 4.2.4.3 lmage analysis ..53 4.2.4.4 Calculations .... .. 53 4.2.5 Statistical analysis 4.3 Results... 4.3.1 Growth of the chorioallantoic membrane 4.3.2 Density of pre- and post-capillary vessels.... 4.3.3 Blood measurements......... 4.3.3.1 Haemoglobín concentration and haematocrit 4.3.3.2 Blood volume in the chorioattantoic membrane 4.3.4 Capillary density 4.3.5 Morphology of the epithelial layer of the chorioallantois........ 4.3.5.1 lrssue barrier..... 4.3.5.2 Plasma barrier... 4. 3. 5.3 Capillary diameter 4.3.5.4 Thickness of the chorionic epithetium 4.3.6 Capillary blood volume 4.4 Discussion........ .77 4.4.1 CAM growth and attachment .77 4.4.2 Vessel density and blood volume... .79 4.4.2.1 Blood yesse/ density .79 4.4.2.2 Haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit .... .81 4.4.2.3 Blood volume in the chorioattantoic membrane - .83 4.4.3 Capillary morphometry ................ .86 4.4. 3. 1 Barrier thíckness .86 4.4.3.2 Diffusing capacity of the CAM 86 4.4.3.3 Chorionic epithelial thickness. 89 4.4.4 Conclusion ....... 89 5. Embryon¡c growth and respiration ....... .91 5.1 lntroduction....... .91 5.2 Material and Methods .93 5.2.1 Incubation and treatment groups..... .93 5.2.2 Survival rate ......... .94 5.2.3 Data analysis........... .94 5.3 Resulfs .96 5.3. 1 Series A: War/oxygen treatment ............ .96 5.3.1. 1 Embryonic grovvth .96 5.3.1.2 Gas exchange.......... .98 5.3.2 Series B: War/hole treatment - late incubatíon 101 IV 5.3.2.1 Embryonic growth .... ............. 101 5.3.2.2 Gas exchange.......... ............. 106 5.3.3 Series C: lmportance of treatment-timing ............. 114 5.3.3. 1 Embryonic grovvth .............114 5.3.3.2 Gas exchange.......... ............. '117 5.3.4 Survival ............. 120 5.3.5 Location of the aircell...... ............. 122 5.4 Discussíon....... ..... 123 5.4.1 Series A: Effect of the waVoxygen treatment ................... .....123 5.4.2 series B: Effect of wadhole treatment through incubation .....125 5.4.3 comparison of the wan/oxygen and wa¡r/hole treatment... .....127 5.4.4 Series C: lmportance of treatment{iming .....128 5.4.5 Conclusion ............. ..... 130 6. General Summary and Gonclusion........ 132 7. Appendices 137 7.1 Respirometry system... ............. 1g7 7.2 Solutions for fixation and staining .......... ......... 139 7.2.1 Light microscopy - fixation............. ................ 199 7.2.2 Light microscopy - staining ............. 139 7.2.3 Transmission electron microscopy - processing tissue samples ... 140 7.2.4 Transmission electron microscopy - cutting aná staining .......... ... 141 7.2.4.1 Thick secfibns ................ 1,41 7.2.4.2 Thin sections............ 142 7.3 Photometry.... ... 144 7.3.1 Haemoglobin Reagent - Drabkin's solution. ... 144 7.3.2 Model by Lothian (19S8) ... 144 7.4 Relationship between orygen uptake and poz under the shett ... 146 8. Bibliography. 148 V List of tables, plates and figures Tables Tab.2.1'. Fraction of oxygen in the gas mixture for the experimental eggs in war/oxygen treatment....... I Tab.2.2: The number of holes (0.6 mm diameter) per egg drilled into shells in the war/hole treatment depending on the initial shell conductance of the e99...... 10 Tab. 2.3: Overview of experimental groups accord ing to shell treatment, day of experimental man ipulation and day of termination., 12 Tab. 3.1: Treatment groups in analysis of lateral diffusion. 26 Tab.3.2: Comparison of the Po2 averaged under the hole side in wa¡dhole treated eggs with the average Poz calculated from the oxygen consumption of untreated control eggs. 40 Tab.4.1 Haematocrit values as percent of capillary volume in the CAM of day 10 to day 14 chicken e99s........ 76 Tab. 4.2: Diffusing capacity of the CAM.. 88 Tab. 5.1: Water content of embryos in warr/oxygen treatment.. 97 Tab. 5.2: Survival rate in wa/oxygen experiments after shell treatment on day 10, terminated between days 12 and 20..... 120 Tab. 5.3 Survival rate in allwa/hole experiments after treatment on day 10, terminated between days 12to 20... 121 Plates Fig.2A: Diagram of the different treatment groups and controls... 11 Fig. 3A.1: Close-up ímage of the needle electrode inserted through the mercury seal into the glass tube compartment attached to a control e99.......... 21 Fig. 34.2 The position of the electrode was controlled with a micromanipulator outsíde the styrofoam box and inserted through a window at the side........... 21 Fig. 38.1: Positions of glass tubes for the measurement of oxygen partial pressure in undisturbed control e99s........ 23 Fig. 38.2: Positions of glass tubes for the measurement of oxygen partial pressure in eggs with wa¡dhole treatment 23 Fig. 3C: Concentric circles in increments of 0.5 cm radius around a glass compartment........... 25 Fig.3D: Comparison of diffusion path under impermeable shell wíth pore in the model by Ar and Girard (1989) and in the proposed model under a wax-cover........... 35 VI Fig. 4A.1: Gridlines on the eggshell: eight meridians at 45' 47 Fis. 4A.2 47 Fig.48 Standardised Sanson-Flamsteed projection of grid on eggshell (about 70o/o of original size)........ 48 Fig.4C: Contents of a chicken egg on day 8.............. 49 Fig. 4D.1: Cross-section of the CAM at 12S0x.. 49 Fig. 4D.2: lsotropic grid overlayed on chorionic epithelium on day 10, 6200x.. 49 Fig. 4E: Choríonic epithelíum of the 10 d chicken at 6200x........... 70 Fig. 4F.1 Chorionic epithelium of 14 d chicken embryo at 4400x...... 71 Fig. 4F.2: Surface of the chorionic epithelium of ,14 d chicken embryo at 8700x... 71 Fig.4G Surface of the chorionic epithelium of 14 d chicken embryo under wax at 8700x............. 71 Figures Fig.2.1: Increase of oxygen partial pressure in the environment to match the decline of poz under the shell... I Fig. 3.1: Equilibration curves for Poz in glass compartments of two eggs on day 15............ 22 Fig. 3.2: Oxygen partial pressure in the gas space under the shell... 27 Fig. 3.3: Comparison of Poz calculated (from the oxygen consumption and shell conductance) and measured in air cell and equator.... 27 Fig. 3.4 Oxygen partial pressure under the egg shell in in different positions in relation to the wa¡r/hole treatment 28 Fig. 3.5: Effect of the holes in the wax/hole treatment on the oxygen partial pressure under the shell in the equatorial region 29 Fig. 3.6 Oxygen partial pressure on day 1g in the centre of shell covered with wax in circles of increasing radius...... 30 Fig. 3.7: The difference of Poz under the shell between the centre and the margin of wax circles of increasing radius...... 31 Fig. 3.8 Oxygen partial pressure under eggshell without wax cover, and in the centre of a wax circle with 0.5 cm and 1.0 cm radius...... 32 Fig. 3.9: Development of Poz under free shell as calculated from regression curves over wax circles, in comparison to measured values in control eggs..........