Effect of gamma radiation on morphological and functioal changes in Japanese quail embryo

The eggs of Japanese quail were gamma irradiated at 24 hour intervals from immediately before incubation to the 13th day after incubation with a dose of 6 Gy. Observed were the lethality of embryos, malformation of beak, legs, reduction of embryonal growth, the warping out of internal body organs and edema of the neck. Average hatching rate in the control groups was 74%, in the irradiated group 44%. Most sensitive to irradiation were embryos at the 2nd and 3rd day of incubation, then lethality had a declining trend and again increased on the 11th day of incubation. A quantitative evaluation was made of malformations and other morphological changes of embryos and hatched individuals. (M.D.)