The Fattening Action of Orally Administered Synthetic Estrogens as Compared with Diethylstilbestrol Pellet Implants

Increased fat deposition in chickens and turkeys with resultant tenderizing of the flesh following subcutaneous implantation of diethylstilbestrol pellets has been described previously (Lorenz, 1943, 1944 and in press). Attempts to produce the same effects by feeding the same estrogen at levels up to 64 mg. per kilo of feed were largely unsuccessful (Lorenz, in press). Jaap and Thayer (1944), however, reported that the dimethyl ether derivative of diethylstilbestrol was more potent orally than was the free stilbene in young pullets as judged by stimulation of oviduct growth. Consequently, an experiment was designed to compare the fattening activity of this compound, and also of another synthetic estrogen, hexestrol dimethyl ether (at the suggestion of Dr. C. W. Sondern of the White Laboratories Inc., who kindly supplied both compounds), when administered orally with diethylstilbestrol pellet implants. Eight groups were each made up of 10 S. C. W. L. cockerels, 6 weeks . . .