STUDIES ON THE pH AND Eh OF NORMAL AND INFLUENZA-INFECTED EGGS

1. pH values of allantoic fluids from non-infected eggs showed a rapid drop from the 12th to the 17th day of embryonic development. A definite age-pH relationship was shown to exist. 2. The allantoic fluid of eggs infected with influenza virus, contrasting with the non-infected eggs, revealed pH values which remained relatively stable about the neutral point at any age between 11 and 17 days. No relationship between pH and age could be established, in the infected series. 3. The Eh value of the fluid from non-infected eggs also exhibited a significant relationship to embryonic age. The majority of the determinations revealed a positive potential. 4. Similar determination on influenza-infected eggs gave results of a predominantly negative potential, indicating a marked state of reduction accompanying virus multiplication. As with the pH determinations, the Eh values of infected eggs were not a function of their age.