Synopsis The lathyrogen semicarbazide inhibited egg‐laying in fowls. The primary target of the drug appeared to be the pituitary gland. Ovulation and normal egg production were resumed soon after withdrawal. The eggs laid during administration appeared to be normal except that their shell membranes were heavier and less pigmented. Amino acid composition of the membranes from treated birds was normal, but they yielded more soluble hydroxyproline‐containing material when autoclaved for 5 h. Prolonged (20 h) autoclaving of membranes from both treated and control birds produced a soluble material very rich in hydroxyproline. Deprivation of dietary calcium did not influence the observed effects of semicarbazide. Plasma‐free hydroxyproline assays indicated that in laying birds semicarbazide produced labilisation of body collagen, but in pre‐laying birds it caused lack of appetite to the point of inanition.
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Bannister et al. (1971) studied this question.
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