THE EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE ON THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE OF THE COMB OF THE COCKEREL1

Abstract

Immature male chicks were treated with varying dosages of testosterone and the effects on comb growth observed macroscopically and microscopically. The dependence of the growth and the differentiation of the chick''s comb on androgen stimulation was confirmed. This response was characterized by the deposition, in the intermediate zones of the combs, of metachromatic interfibrillar ground substance, which by means of hyaluronidase digestion and chemical analysis was shown to contain considerable amts. of hyaluronic acid. The fibroblasts in all layers of the comb increased in number, size, degree of basophilia, and alkaline phosphatase content. No conclusive vidence of the origin of the ground substance from these proliferating fibroblasts was obtained.