THE QUANTITATIVE RECOVERY OF SYNTHETIC ESTROGENS FROM TISSUES OF BIRDS (GALLUS DOMESTICUS), THE RESPONSE OF THE BIRDS’ TESTIS, COMB AND EPIDERMIS TO ESTROGEN AND OF HUMANS TO INGESTION OF TISSUES FROM TREATED BIRDS

Abstract

After subcut. admn. to rats the potency of 5 estrogens was, in descending order, found to be diethylstilbestrol, dienestrol diacetate, dimethyl ether of diethylstilbestrol, dimethyl ether of hexes-terol and dimethyl ether of dienestrol. After oral admn., the diethylstilbestrol dimethyl ether proved slightly more potent than the dienestrol diacetate but otherwise the order of potency was unchanged. Dimethyl ethers were apparently more potent orally than subcut. It appears that fractions of exogenous estrogens when fed to chickens were taken up chiefly by lipid-containing tissues in preference to other tissues. Clinical tests showed characteristic estrus changes of the cytology of vaginal smears after 6 days of feeding livers or oils of adipose tissue from chickens treated with diethylstilbestrol dimethyl ether. The daily dosage of lipids was adjusted to furnish an approx. dosage of 2 mg. estrogen. When similar amts. of tissue from birds treated with dienestrol diacetate were fed, the daily dosage of estrogen was only 0.2 mg. and no cytological changes were seen. In 12 wks. old chickens effective suppression of maleness, testis and combs being involved, was obtained on a dosage of 13 X 2.613 mg. estrogen/bird. A 3-fold dosage had no greater effect. In 52 wks. old birds 20 mg. estrogen/day was not sufficient to suppress maleness consistently. Estrogens caused a 4-fold hypertrophy of epidermal strata causing the skin to become opaque and acquire a smooth luminous white appearance.