THE EFFECTS OF TETRACYCLINE
ON GALLUS DOMESTICUS
Professor J. P. Ellis
T.A. Tom Pinard
July 15, 1996
Our Embryology lab experiment was performed to observe the effects of tetracycline on
the development in chicken embryos, such as bone and beak growth. Five control and
seven experimental eggs were used for the experiment. The five control eggs were not
injected with tetracycline, six of the experimental eggs were injected with 0.05 mg of
tetracycline, and one of the experimental eggs was injected with 0.2 mg of tetracycline.
On the seventeenth day of embryo development, all eggs were opened and observed.
Good conclusive results were noted. Out of the seven injected eggs, all had some sort
of abnormality. Conversely the control group eggs appeared normal.
Table of Contents
III. Results and Observations
IV. Discussion and Conclusion
I. Introduction and Review
Tetracycline, an antibacterial drug, is used to treat many infectious diseases such as
gonorrhea, syphilis, sinusitis, upper respiratory infections.
The usual adult dosage ranges from 100mg to 200mg once a day. Possible allergic
reactions include: 1) swelling of the face, 2) skin rash, 3) loss of appetite with vomiting,
4) soar throat, and 5) abdominal cramping. There are more serious side effects , such
as anaphylactic reactions, liver and renal damage, discoloration of teeth with
malformation in children under 8 years of age.
Results of animal studies shows that tetracycline class drugs cross the placenta and
are found in fetal tissues. This has toxic effects on developing fetuses. These effects
include retardation of skeletal development, decreased white cells, and increased
eosionophils. Due to the findings, it is advisable to completely avoid tetracycline class
drugs during pregnancy and breast feeding.