Studies on the Effect of Aflatoxin B 1 on the Development of the Chick Embryo ∗ †

Summary

Surviving embryos of fertile hens' eggs injected with an effective dose (approximately LD₇₀ of aflatoxin B₁ showed a marked depression in growth only after day 12 of development. Surviving embroys did not show any gross morphological abnormalities. The pattern of development of several enzymes (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and GOT) in the aflatoxin-treated eggs showed only minor differences from that of the controls. An effective dose (approximately LD₇₀ of aflatoxin B₁ does not affect the early stages of differentiation and growth, but does depress growth after day 12 of development.