The role of estrogen on the uropygial gland function was investigated following estradiol therapy to both sexes of adult pigeons and ovariectomy in pre-pubertal pigeons and ducks and in post-pubertal pigeons. Administration of estradiol in intact adult male pigeons elicited a regression of the uropygial gland. Parallel treatment of estradiol in female birds provoked a stimulation of this gland. Pre-pubertal spaying in pigeons and ducks (kept for 30 days) and post-pubertal ovarian ablation in pigeons (kept for 30 and 60 days) did not bring about any perceptible change in the uropygial gland. All these findings have been confirmed by gravimetric, histologic, karyodynamic and some cytochemical studies. It has been suggested that estrogen is not normally involved in the maintenance of the uropygial gland of female pigeons and adrenal androgen and/or other adrenocortical hormones replace estrogen in regulating the preen gland of females. The differential action of estradiol upon this gland has also been briefly discussed.
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B. R. Maiti (1971) studied this question.