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Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 202, Issue 11 1545-1550, Copyright © 1999 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Developmental patterns of heart rate in altricial avian embryos and hatchlings

JT Pearson, Y Noma and H Tazawa
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, Muroran 050-8585, Japan. jpearson@muroran-it.ac.jp.

The aims of this study were to determine the patterns of development of heart rate (fH) in altricial avian embryos and hatchlings, and then to examine how fH is regulated to meet metabolic requirements in altricial embryos. Embryonic mean heart rate (fH-) in 12 altricial species (Passeriformes and Psittaciformes) increased during pre-pipping incubation in all species except the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), in which fH- tended to decrease prior to pipping. The rate of increase in fH- tripled during the pipping phase in all species, and fH- was significantly higher during the pipping period and in hatchlings than during pre-pipping development. The O2 pulse (O2 consumed per cardiac beat) of altricial embryos increased in direct proportion to embryo mass (loge/loge base), although fH- was often low prior to pipping, implying that stroke volume increases in the second half of incubation. We conclude that fH contributes more than other factors towards supplying the metabolic demands of the embryo during the middle of incubation and the final pipping phase, but less during the intervening period of late incubation.


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H Tazawa, J. Pearson, T Komoro, and A Ar
Allometric relationships between embryonic heart rate and fresh egg mass in birds
J. Exp. Biol., January 1, 2001; 204(1): 165 - 174.
[Abstract] [PDF]


© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1999