Effects of Alcohol on a 5 Day Old Chick Embryo’s Heart Rate

Tami ChristTalia Katz

Biology 240WPenn State Lehigh Valley

Background InformationAlcohol can have a good effect on the

heart.Moderate consumption can help protect

against heart disease.It can help raise HDL (good cholesterol)

which helps to prevent plaque in arteries.

Background InformationAlcohol can have a

negative effect on the heart.

Heavy consumption can lead to multiple diseases and heart complications.

Some disease and complications include: hypertension, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and stroke.

Null HypothesisThe null hypothesis of our experiment was

that the alcohol would not have an effect on the heart.

Choosing the ConcentrationsWe chose the alcohol concentrations

based on the amount of alcohol in everyday items.

30%, which is the amount in mouthwash.

10%, which is the amount in Nyquil.5%, which is the average amount in

beer.

Making the ConcentrationsIn order to make the concentrations, started off

with 80 proof alcohol (40% alcohol).Then we used the 40% alcohol and gradually

decreased the concentration using chick saline.30% = 3 parts alcohol and 1 part chick saline.10% = 2 parts 30% alcohol and 1 part chick

saline.5% = 1 part 10% alcohol and 1 part chick saline.

ProcedureFirst, place tape on

egg.Then puncture a

hole in egg with a scissors and withdraw some of the fluid from egg with syringe.

Cut out the window to reveal the embryo.

ProcedureLeave chick embryo

in egg.While in the egg, be

sure to count the heart rate in vivo (bpm) with a stop watch.

Then explant the embryo from the egg with a tiny spoon and place in a dish filled with chick saline.

ProcedureThen move the

embryo to a dish filled with CMRL.

Now count the heart rate in vitro (bpm).

Once the in vitro heart rate is taken, then explant the heart from the embryo’s body.

ProcedureOnce the heart is

explanted and the in vitro heart rate is counted, submerge the embryo’s heart in one of alcohol solutions.

Count the heart rate once placed into the dish of the alcohol solution.

Data TableHeart Rate –

In vivoHeart Rate –

In vitro (explanted)

Heart Rate – After

Exposure

Embryo 1 (30%)

152 24 Stopped (0)

Embryo 2 116 Stopped Stopped (0)

Embryo 3 140 Stopped Stopped (0)

Embryo 4 (10%)

124 92 Stopped almost

instantly (0)

Embryo 5 120 68 Stopped before exposed (0)

Embryo 6 (0.05%)

120 52 16Table 1

Heart Rate vs. State of Heart

In V

ivo

In V

itro

(exp

lant

ed)

After e

xpos

ure

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Embryo 1 (30%)Embryo 2 Embryo 3 Embryo 4 (10%)Embryo 5 Embryo 6 (0.05%)

State of the Heart

Heart

Rate

(B

eats

per

Min

ute

)

Future Experiments & RevisionsIn future experiments, 1 change should be

made.The 3 concentrations of alcohol would

need to be change.The concentrations were way too high and

stopped the heart almost immediately.Changing the concentrations to ideal blood

alcohol levels ( 0.08% < x < 0.08%).

SummaryWe really did not get a clear answer to our

hypotheses.I think with a future experiments and the

revisions made we would have a clearer answer to how alcohol and its concentration affect the heart.

With the information gained from the experiment, we have a better idea for future experiments.

References“Alcohol and Heart Disease.” Women’s Heart Foundation.

2007. <http://www.womensheart.org/content/HeartDisease/alcohol_and_heart_disease.asp>.

McLaughlin, Jacqueline, McCain, Elizabeth. “Student Outline.” 1999. <http://www2.lv.psu.edu/jxm57/chicklab/outline.html>.

Norr, Serena. “How Does Alcohol Affect the Heart?” 2009. <http://i.ehow.com/images/a04/m8/58/alcohol-affect-heart-800X800.jpg>.