Permeability of Yolk of the Hen's Egg to Bromine-82

Abstract

To investigate the resistance to diffusion between the two phases of the egg, the 34-hr. isotope of bromine (⁸²Br) as bromide was injected into the white in many eggs and its penetration into the yolk measured after various periods of time. About 5 ml. of the white of the egg to be injected was mixed with ½ ml. of the radioactive bromide in isotonic solution, and injected as uniformly as possible throughout that remaining in the shell. The egg was maintained during the experimental period at 1° C., and, at its conclusion, frozen in a mixture of ether and dry ice. The yolk and white could then be separated cleanly with a sharp blow, and were conveniently diluted and their activities measured with a Geiger-Müller counter dipping into the liquids.