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Changes in Acid-Base Balance and Related Physiological Responses as a Result of External Hypercapnia During the Second Half of Incubation in the Chicken Embryo

N. Everaert^*,1, L. De Smit^*, M. Debonne^*, A. Witters^*, B. Kamers, E. Decuypere^* and V. Bruggeman^*

^* Department of Biosystems, Division Livestock-Nutrition-Quality, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; and Department of Biosystems, Division Mechatronics, Biostatistics and Sensors, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium

¹ Corresponding author: Nadia.everaert{at}biw.kuleuven.be

This study investigated the effect of high CO₂ (4%) from embryonic day (ED)10 until ED16 on the acid-base balance and related parameters in the chicken embryo. From ED10 to ED16, blood was taken from a vein from the chorioallantois membrane and was analyzed for pH, partial pressure of CO₂, partial pressure of O₂ (pO₂), [HCO₃^–], [K⁺], and [Ca²⁺]. Allantoic fluid was taken for measurement of pH, NH₃-N, phosphate, and calcium concentration. The right tibia was ashed, and calcium was measured with atomic absorption spectroscopy. Embryos exposed to high CO₂ showed a consistent higher blood pH than control embryos. Notwithstanding this alkalosis, bicarbonate concentration was significantly higher in the CO₂ group from ED12 until ED16. Potassium concentration in the blood was significantly higher in the CO₂ group from ED11 until ED16. The pH of the allantois was significantly higher on ED14 and ED15. Ammonia N concentration was significantly higher in the CO₂-incubated embryos on ED12 and ED13, whereas phosphate did not differ between groups. Calcium per tibia dry weight did not differ between incubation conditions. We can conclude that embryos adapt to high CO₂ during the second half of incubation by increasing blood HCO₃^–. It appears that this increase in HCO₃^–is mainly the result of the stimulated intracellular exchange of H⁺ with K⁺, although temporary reabsorption of HCO₃^–by the kidney cannot be excluded.

Key Words: high-carbon dioxide incubation • acid-base balance • potassium • calcium • allantois