Abstract
Chick embryos received a single injection of actinomycin D($0.1{\mu}g,\;0.05{\mu}g\;or\;0.1{\mu}g$) or puromycin($10.0{\mu}g,\;30.0{\mu}g\;or\;50.0{\mu}g$) into the yolk sac of Arbor acres chick embryos either prior to incubation or at certain periods of time (48, 96 and 144 hours) after incubation. After 10days of incubation, surviving embryos were investigated morphologically and biochemically. Embryos treated with actinomycin D or puromycin showed a high mortality when they were exposed prior to incubation and at 48 hours after incubation. Electron micrographs of chondrocytes in tarso-metatarsal of antibiotics (actinomycin D or puromycin) treated embryos showed the destruction of cytoplasm and nuclei when they were exposed prior to incubation. Endoplasmic reticulum was expanded and mitochondria were damaged in chondrocytes of surving embryos treated with low doses at 48 hours, 96 hours or 144 hours after incubation. The activities of enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase in embryos treated with actinomycin D or puromycin were much less than those of the saline treated group. Also, the amounts of DNA, RNA and protein were greatly decreased.