ACTION OF PROLACTIN AND ESTRONE ON WEIGHTS OF REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS AND VISCERA OF THE COCKERE1

Abstract

The inj. of estrone and prolactin into single-comb White Leghorn chicks inhibited comb and gonad growth. This effect was more marked in those on a normal diet than in those on a limited diet. The higher dosages of estrone, 500 I. U. and 1000 I. U. daily, produced an increase in the weight and length of alimentary canal, weight of the liver and pancreas, and an increase in the adrenal weight. The administration of 2 U and 5 U of prolactin also caused an increase in the wt. of the viscera but to a lesser degree. Limited diet cockerels which received estrone had gonads and combs which were smaller than those of the limited-diet controls. Prolactin, however, did not affect the comb and the testes were reduced in size only in the 5 U and 10 U series. Visceral weights in the limited-diet, injected chicks were lower than in the controls, but the prolactin series averaged slightly heavier than the estrone group. Adm. of whole pituitary extract to limited-diet chicks stimulated comb and gonad growth and also had some effect on viscera. Inj. of 25 I. U. of estrone inhibited gonad growth in limited-diet birds, but had no effect on visceral wt. There is a correlation between the pituitary cytology and the hormone treatment inasmuch as independent study (Payne) has demonstrated a regression of the basophiles in estrone and prolactin-treated chicks as well as in the limited-diet birds. The acidophiles of the pituitary were numerous and probably little affected except perhaps by very rigorous treatment.