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Results:

The embryos of the first experiment were treated with one of two growth factors, either bFGF or VEGF. Those treated with bFGF showed the greatest amount of blood vessel forma- tion when compared with the DMEM and VEGF embryos (
pictures of the results). A problem may have occurred with the VEGF, as it had been in the lab for an extended period of time and may have been too old to produce accurate results.

Of the twelve embryos prepared for the second experiment (during which only the effects of bFGF on blood vessel formation was evaluated), seven survived. When opened, those embryos that did not survive had significantly darker amnionic fluid than their living counterparts. In addition, the amnionic fluid of the dead embryos appeared cloudy and gave off a distinct odor. Of the seven surviving embryos, only the filter paper disks of three were removed successfuly (with portions of the CAM membrane attached). In other cases, when removing the disks, blood vessels were cut in such a way as to contaminate the filter paper squares; some removed squares were dyed red by the ruptured blood vessels, and the CAM membrane was either dislodged or lost.

 

Figure 1. Photograph of CAM membrane attached to a filter paper square (3mm x 3mm) treated with DMEM. The CAM membrane was removed from a 15-day-old chick embry, after the membrane was exposed to a treated filter paper square for five days.

When examining the numbers of blood vessels on the CAM membranes treated with either DMEM or bFGF, the one treated with bFGF had a greater number of blood vessels (13) as compared with the vessels observed on the two disks treated with DMEM (7 and 12, respectively); however, it must be taken into account that only three test results were collected. In addition, a significant difference between the number of blood vessels of either the DMEM or bFGF CAM membranes did not exist.

© Cebra-Thomas, 2001
Last Modified: 1 April 2004

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