Effect of Gonadotropic Hormone on Ovarian Follicles and Serum Vitellin Of Fasting Hens

Abstract

Summary1. Follicular atresia begins in the ovary of the starving hen on the 2nd day of starvation, and in about a week the whole ovary becomes atretic. Concurrently, serum vitellin decreases and disappears completely around the 7th day of starvation. Both these changes were prevented by daily administration of 0.5 Cartland-Nelson Unit of gonadotropic hormone. 2. These findings were interpreted to indicate the following sequence of events: starvation decreases the production of GTJ by the pituitary, this induces atresia and the decreased releae of estrogen, the latter decreases the formation and the release of serum vitellin by the liver.