Non-invasive monitoring of avian embryo heart rate

Abstract

Non-invasive monitoring of the heart rate allows measuring the condition of the chick embryo in the incubation process without negative consequences for the future chick. The optical method for registering heartbeats is available to a wide range of incubation specialists and enables the registration of the heart rhythm of a developing embryo directly in an incubator. Long-term monitoring of the heart rate allows determining temperature regime compliance of incubation and adjusting the egg cooling duration. The experimental results demonstrate the availability of the method to a wide range of specialists. The results found in the present study reveal the possibilities of monitoring the heart rhythm of the developing chick embryo. A technique for spectral analysis of the waveforms of the embryo's heart activity is proposed.