Direct measurement of allantoic blood flow in the chicken, Gallus domesticus. Responses to alteration in ambient temperature and PO2.

A technique is described for direct measurement of allantoic blood flow in chicken embryos in situ using an electromagnetic flow meter. A branch of the allantoic artery was catheterized non-obstructively for simultaneous pressure measurement. In 15-day-old embryos at 39 degrees C the mean heart rate was 278 beats/min falling to 124 beats/min at 26 degrees C. Despite this fall in heart rate, blood flow fell only 10% from 4.4 ml/min at 39 degrees C to 4.0 ml/min at 26 degrees C. Mean allantoic blood pressure was similarly nearly unaffected by temperature. Allantoic blood flow was insignificantly altered by hyperoxic as well as hypoxic exposure (6% O2).