The growth of the cock’s comb has long been known to be dependent upon stimulation by androgens (Champy and Kritch, 1925; Hardesty, 1931). By virtue of this reaction the combs of the capon and chick have been used extensively for the bioassay of male hormones. Remarkably, however, there has been little attempt to analyze the structural changes in this response. In 1925–26, Champy and Kritch published the first histological descriptions of the comb of the chicken. They identified a “mucoelastic” layer in this organ, consisting of loose connective tissue in which there were abundant elastic fibers and many large vacuoles filled with mucoid material. They claimed that complete disappearance of this layer occurred after castration, and that it reappeared after intraperitoneal transplantation of testicular tissue. Hardesty (1931) published a more detailed histologic description, in which she subdivided the comb into several anatomic layers. We have confirmed her findings and have adhered to her terminology throughout.
LUDWIG et al. (1950) studied this question.