Abstract
In the present experiment, Reserpine was administered on the developing eggs of white leghorn for the investigation of its toxicity and further for the study of its influence on the general growth of the embryos on different stages of incubation and on the increase in the weight of thyroid. At the same time, moreover, histopathological surveys were made with special reference on the liver and the kidney. Stated in the following are the results obtained thereof:
1. No malformation nor growth disturbance was recognized. Complete hatching, however, was not successful when Reserpine was administered in a dose of 1000 mcg.
2. No major difference was observed in the body weight of the chick embryos between the the control group and the experimental group.
3. Allantoic fluid showed an increase and this increase was intensified following the increase in the concentration of Reserpine administered.
4. Amniotic fluid was largest in quantity on the 15th day of embryonation and the embryos received lower concentrations of Reserpine showed severer changes in the quantity of amniotic fluid.
5. Though the weight of the thyroid of Reserpine administered embryos was lower than that of the control group on the 15th day of embryonation, it showed an evident increase on the 18th day and the 21st day of embryonation. Especially, there was a tendency to develop thyroidal swelling among the group received concentrated Reserpine.
6. As for the histological findings of the thyroid, slight nuclear condensation of the follicular epithelial cells was recognized among the 15th day embryos of the group received concentrated Reserpine.
7. Histological findings of the liver showed mild granular degeneration, vacuolar degeneration and nuclear condensation among the group received concentrated Reserpine. In the kidney, atrophy of the glomerulus and the renal tubule was recognized in the mesonephros and the swelling of the glomerulus in the metanephros of the group received concentrated Reserpine.
8. It apppears, in short, that Reserpine scarcely has any antithyroidal action on the thyroid of chick embyos.
