Effect of Hormones on the Formation of the Hen’s Egg

Abstract

The experiments here presented were part of an investigation into the formation of the hen’s egg (in press). Several substances were tried but only the results of trials with follicular hormone and dessicated thyroid are given in this report. Different gland preparations have been tried on domestic fowls by many investigators but only a few have used hens for this purpose and they have usually not been directly interested in the effect of these substances on the eggs laid. Consequently, there is very little information with regard to the effect of hormones on the formation of the hen’s egg. In the following paragraphs, some of the literature dealing with the effects of hormones on reproduction in birds is briefly reviewed. A. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Pearl and Surface (1914) reported that intra-abdominal injections of an extract of corpus luteum stopped ovulation when large doses were used. Smaller doses had little . . .