Effect of testosterone and cortisone on the hexosamine content and metachromasia of chick combs.

Abstract

IN 1949, Boas reported the isolation of hyaluronic acid from the cock’s comb. It was suggested that hyaluronic acid comprises a considerable proportion of the mucopolysaccharide component of the comb (Ludwig and Boas, 1950) and that its deposition in the cock’s comb depends on androgen stimulation. The present investigation was designed to study the effect of testosterone and 17-hydroxy-11-dehydrocorticosterone (Kendall’s Cpd. E) on the mucopolysaccharide content of the chick comb. For the determination of hexosamine, a method which does not distinguish between glucosamine and galactosamine was used. One day old White Leghorn male chicks were placed in thermostatically controlled battery brooders and fed chick starter mash and water. The chicks were three days old at the beginning of the experiment. Testosterone propionate (Schering Corporatoin) was made up to contain the total dose in 0.35 ml. of corn oil and 0.05 ml. was applied locally to the comb once daily for seven days.