Induction of feather malformations in chick embryos by cadmium: protection by zinc.

Various doses of cadmium chloride were injected to chick embryos between the seventh and 14th day of incubation. Doses over 15 micrograms/egg produced high mortality and, when injected between the tenth and 11th day, widespread curling of the feathers in the surviving embryos. A different type of malformation, consisting of hemorrhagic atrophy of the distal part of the feathers, was observed in the embryos injected with similar doses during the 12th day. No feather malformations were observed in embryos injected before the ninth or after the 12th day of incubation. The simultaneous injection of an equimolar amount of zinc sulfate prevented the feather malformations.