Responses of the Oviduct of Immature Female Fowl to Injection of Diethylstilbestrol and the Mechanism of Perforation of the Oviduct in the Domestic Fowl

A GREAT amount of work has been done on the estrogenic influence of stilbestrol on the mammals but, unfortunately, its effect on birds has received relatively little attention or consideration in the past. However, it has been demonstrated that this estrogen stimulates the immature oviduct of the domestic fowl (Herrick, 1944; Wolff, 1939; Munro and Kosin, 1943). Greenwood (1935) observed that up to the onset of puberty in the female fowl the junction between the oviduct and the cloaca is occluded by a plate. He suggested that the subsequent perforation of the oviduct is under the hormonal control of the ovary. Recently Kar (1947b) has observed that a close relationship exists between the growth phases of the ligaments, oviduct and the head furnishings and from this he has pointed out the possibility of the dependence of the ligaments on the hormonal control of the ovary. The present investigation was undertaken . . .