Monstrosities produced by the injection of selenium salts into hens' eggs

Abstract

Chick monsters were consistently produced in eggs from localities where low hatchability had been observed and where toxic foodstuffs were produced (Franke and Tully, '35). I n order to prove that the foodstuff, and not the quality of the stock, was the causative factor, chicks of known stock were fed toxic grain produced in the localities where low hatchability and toxic foodstuffs are common (Tully and Franke, '35 ; Franke and Tully, '36). Following the clue provided by Robinson ( '33) who demonstrated the presence of selenium in a sample of toxic wheat, selenium salts were injected into normal eggs, thereby proving that selenium was the causative agent in the production of monsters.The methods employed were as follows : Eggs were candled to outline the air cells. The area over the air cell was swabbed with an iodine solution, and the selenium solution was injected by puncturing the shell with a hypodermic needle. The punctures were then closed by applying discs of thin paper dipped into egg white.Various concentrations of selenium were used, both in the form of sodium selenite and sodium selenate. I n estimating the concentration, it was assumed that the average egg white plus yolk weighed 50 gm.

Chick Embryonic Development as Influenced by in Ovo Injected Selenium

“…This is in contrast to previous studies by Franke et al (1936) and Westfall (1938). These workers found that of the embryos were abnormal when injected with 0.6 and 0.7 ppm of Se, respectively, as sodium selenite preceding incubation.…”

Incorporation of Selenium into the Tissues of the Chick Embryo

“…of selenium as Na 2 Se0 3 into eggs prior to incubation, monstrosities were produced at the end of the hatching period. The bizarre results were similar to those found elsewhere (Franke et al, 1936), and because of this, there is little need to elaborate further. The distribution of Se-75 in newly hatched chicks receiving trace amounts of selenium is shown in Table 1.…”

Effects of glutathione depletion on selenite- and selenate-induced embryotoxicity in cultured rat embryos

“…In birds, selenium-caused malformations, such as hydrocephaly, beak defects, microphthalmia, anophthalmia, and foot defects, were observed in duck [2,3] and chicken [4][5][6] embryos when given to hens or injected to eggs. In mammals, however, teratogenicity of Se has not been clearly shown.…”