Tami Christ Talia Katz Biology 240W Penn State Lehigh Valley

Background Information Alcohol can have a good effect on the heart. Moderate consumption can help protect against heart disease. It can help raise HDL (good cholesterol) which helps to prevent plaque in arteries.

Background Information Alcohol can have a negative effect on the heart. Heavy consumption can lead to multiple diseases and heart complications. Some disease and complications include: hypertension, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and stroke.

Null Hypothesis The null hypothesis of our experiment was that the alcohol would not have an effect on the heart.

Choosing the Concentrations We chose the alcohol concentrations based on the amount of alcohol in everyday items. 30%, which is the amount in mouthwash. 10%, which is the amount in Nyquil. 5%, which is the average amount in beer.

Making the Concentrations In order to make the concentrations, started off with 80 proof alcohol (40% alcohol). Then we used the 40% alcohol and gradually decreased the concentration using chick saline. 30% = 3 parts alcohol and 1 part chick saline. 10% = 2 parts 30% alcohol and 1 part chick saline. 5% = 1 part 10% alcohol and 1 part chick saline.

Procedure First, place tape on egg. Then puncture a hole in egg with a scissors and withdraw some of the fluid from egg with syringe. Cut out the window to reveal the embryo.

Procedure Leave chick embryo in egg. While in the egg, be sure to count the heart rate in vivo (bpm) with a stop watch. Then explant the embryo from the egg with a tiny spoon and place in a dish filled with chick saline.

Procedure Then move the embryo to a dish filled with CMRL. Now count the heart rate in vitro (bpm). Once the in vitro heart rate is taken, then explant the heart from the embryo’s body.

Procedure Once the heart is explanted and the in vitro heart rate is counted, submerge the embryo’s heart in one of alcohol solutions. Count the heart rate once placed into the dish of the alcohol solution.

Data Table Heart Rate – In vivo Heart Rate – In vitro (explanted) Heart Rate – After Exposure Embryo 1 (30%)15224Stopped (0) Embryo 2116StoppedStopped (0) Embryo 3140StoppedStopped (0) Embryo 4 (10%)12492Stopped almost instantly (0) Embryo Stopped before exposed (0) Embryo 6 (0.05%) Table 1

Heart Rate vs. State of Heart

Future Experiments & Revisions In future experiments, 1 change should be made. The 3 concentrations of alcohol would need to be change. The concentrations were way too high and stopped the heart almost immediately. Changing the concentrations to ideal blood alcohol levels ( 0.08% < x < 0.08%).

Summary We really did not get a clear answer to our hypotheses. I think with a future experiments and the revisions made we would have a clearer answer to how alcohol and its concentration affect the heart. With the information gained from the experiment, we have a better idea for future experiments.

References “Alcohol and Heart Disease.” Women’s Heart Foundation McLaughlin, Jacqueline, McCain, Elizabeth. “Student Outline.” Norr, Serena. “How Does Alcohol Affect the Heart?”