THE INFLUENCE OF THE SEX HORMONES ON THE BURSA OF FABRICIUS AND THE PELVIS IN THE RING-NECKED PHEASANT1

Abstract

In 56 normal and castrate [male][male] injected with 0.3 mg. of testosterone daily for 20 days beginning at the 15th wk. of age the rate of involution of the bursa was increased in comparison with uninjected normal and castrate controls. The inj. of 20 normal [female][female] of similar age with 0.2 mg. of stilbestrol daily for 20 days induced the same rate of involution as did testosterone. It is concluded that the rate of involution of the bursa can be increased by the inj. of either testosterone propionatc or diethylstilbestrol. In the [female] the inj. of stilbestrol doubled the distance between the pubic bones, the cloaca became enlarged and moist and was characteristic of the laying condition.