Abstract
Methylmercury chloride, mercuric chloride and phenylmercury acetate were respectively administered subcutaneously to roosters with 600μg/day as Hg for several months consecutively, and each of these roosters was raised in a cage with a hen. The rate of hatching from fertilized eggs of a hen mated with a rooster which was administered with mercuric chloride was significantly inhibited as compared with the rate of hatching from control eggs. However, rates of hatching from eggs of hens mated with roosters administered with methylmercury chloride or phenylmercury acetate were not significantly inhibited.
