Determining the Effects of
Alcohol on the Heart Rate of
a 72 Hour
Chicken Heart
Jason Miller
Bethsaida Nieves
Biology 240
April 6, 2000
Purpose
To study the effects of alcohol on the 72 hour
chick embryonic heart, by applying different
concentrations of alcohol.
Hypothesis
The heart rate of a 72 hour chick embryo will
regress due to the amount of the alcoholic
solution given to the embryo.
Methods
1. Preparation of Dilutions
0.4%, 0.2%, 0.02%
Methods
2. Windowing an egg - In Vivo (Cruz, 1993)
3. Explanting the egg - In Vitro (Cruz, 1993)
Experimental Procedure
•12 Embryos
•3 Control Embryos
•3 Embryos with 0.4%
•3 Embryos with 0.2%
•3 Embryos with 0.02%
Alcoholic Effects
Alcohol is a depressant. Depressants
are known to have retardant effects on
heart rate and the CNS. However,
alcohol is very sporadic at times, and
can also increase heart rate. (Logue,1986)
Embryo #
1- Control
In vivo
In vitro
heart rate
heart rate
100 104 104 88 80 68
2- 0.02%
116 100 128 62
3- 0.2%
4- 0.4%
57
57
Heart rate
with alcohol
NONE
48 52 48
52 67
104 116 132 100 100 100 80 76 84
72 76
138 72 102 72 72 66 72 60 60
60 54
Data Results
Table 1
140
120
Control
100
Embryo #1
80
Embryo #2
60
Embryo #3
40
20
0
In vivo
In vitro Alcohol
* The average of each heart rate is graphed.
Dark Blue: 0.02%
Light Blue: 0.2% Gray: 0.4%
Embryo #
1- Control
In vivo
In vitro
heart rate
heart rate
126 102 120 84 72 78
Heart rate
with alcohol
NONE
2- 0.02%
102 114 120 84
78
84
3- 0.2%
120 105 100 83
75
71
4- 0.4%
120 105 115 78
72
66
54 42 48
42 48
66 78 90
72 90
57 43 36
36 36
Data Results
Table 2
140
120
Control
100
Embryo #1
80
Embryo #2
60
Embryo #3
40
20
0
In vivo
In vitro
Alcohol
* The average of each heart rate is graphed.
Dark Blue: 0.02%
Light Blue: 0.2% Gray: 0.4%
Embryo #
1- Control
In vivo
heart rate
114 111 117
In vitro
heart rate
86 76 73
2- 0.02%
160 155 150 90
70
75
3- 0.2%
150 150 135 75
80
70
4- 0.4%
129 89 108
72
70
75
Heart rate
with alcohol
NONE
60 50 50
50 45
72 66 60
60 54
64 53 48
48 45
Data Results
Table 3
180
160
140
120
100
Control
Embryo #1
Embryo #2
80
60
40
20
0
Embryo #3
In vivo
In vitro
Alcohol
* The average of each heart rate is graphed.
Dark Blue: 0.02%
Light Blue: 0.2% Gray: 0.4%
Conclusion
The heart rate of each experimental embryo
decreased compared to the first in vivo heart rates
that were taken. The application of alcohol
resulted in an even lower heart rate. As
previously explained, alcohol is a depressant.
However, it may be very sporadic at times, and
can also increase heart rate, therefore, our
hypothesis was not supported.
Conclusion
• Heart rate: After windowing the egg, the heart
rate decreased due to lack of warmth from the
goose neck lamp. After explanting, the heart
rate decreased even more because of the
temperature of the warm chick saline solution.
Future Experiments
• Apply the solutions while in vivo rather then
in vitro.
• Apply the same concentrations (0.02%,
0.2% and 0.4%) to a more developed
embryo.
• Apply different concentrations to the 72
hour chick embryo.
REFERENCES
• Cruz, Y.P. 1993. Laboratory Exercises In
Developmental Biology. Academic Press, San
Diego, California, 241 pages. [ISBN 0-12198390-0] [book].
• Logue, A.W. 1986. The Psychology Of Eating And
Drinking. W.H. Freeman and Company, New
York, 298 pages.