OCCURRENCE OF OVARIAN “TUMORS” IN SPONTANEOUS VIRILISM OF THE HEN

Abstract

EMBRYOLOGICALLY, the hen's ovary is bisexual. The first proliferation of theovarian germinal epithelium forms the primary sexual cords which later develop into the rete ovarii. The latter is not only a homolog of the testis, but can actually develop into one in certain circumstances. In the adult hen, the components of the rete ovarii can persist in a modified form in the atrophic right ovary and possibly in the left ovary. In the later developmental stages of the embryo the primary sexual cords are transformed into the following ovarian components (i): distended tubules with a large lumen and low epithelium, clusters or cords of fat-laden cells of Nonidez (also called luteal cells), isolated medullary cord cells, cords of primordial germ cells, cords of primordial germ cells bound together by a basement membrane, and mixed cords consisting of germ cells and fat-laden cells.