Comparative Staging of Embryo Development.pdf

?2006 Poultry Science Association, Inc. Comparative Staging of Embryo Development in Chicken, Turkey, Duck, Goose, Guinea Fowl, and Japanese Quail Assessed from Five Hours After Fertilization Through Seventy-Two Hours of Incubation N. Sellier,*1 J.-P. Brillard,? V. Dupuy,? and M. R. Bakst?2 *Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Station Expe?rimentale des Palmipe?des a? Foie Gras, Artigue?res, 40280-Benquet, France; ?INRA, Station de Recherches Avicoles, 37380-Nouzilly, France; and ?Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Biotechnology and Germplasm Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705 Primary Audience: Poultry Breeder and Hatchery Personnel, Poultry Scientists, Avian Embryologists SUMMARY Normal tables of chicken embryo development are used to define specific stages of morphogenetic progression from the first cleavage divisions through hatching. Although established for the turkey and Pekin duck, the application of the normal tables of chicken embryo development to other birds of commercial and research importance needs be examined. Chicken, turkey, Japanese quail, and Pekin duck blastoderms from oviductal eggs showed differences in the rate of development that were inversely correlated with egg size. Oviposited eggs from these and additional species (goose, Muscovy and mule ducks, and Guinea fowl) were examined after 24 to 72 h of storage and at 6-h intervals up to 72 h of incubation. There was variation in the developmental stages of the blastoderm at the time of oviposition between and within the species and strains examined. Although it is recognized that the temporal rate of development will differ between different species and strains, the external features of any embryo in any given stage will be nearly identical. Key words: aves, embryonic development, incubation, fertilization, morphogenesis 2006 J. Appl. Poult. Res. 15:219–228 DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM General Information One dilemma in comparing embryo devel- opment between poultry species is the a