The right ovary of the chick embryo after early sinistral castration.

Abstract

AbstractAfter sinistral ovariectomy of young chicks the right ovary develops into a testicular structure. This well known fact induced the author to study the development of the right ovary of chick embryos after early sinistral castration. In four‐day‐old embryos of various breeds and strains the left gonadal primordium was destroyed by local electro‐diathermic coagulation. The remaining right ovaries, developing until autopsy at 12‐ to 19‐days of incubation, as a rule showed a compensatory growth as well as a marked lacunarization of the medullary layer adjacent to the surface epithelium. The enlargement, verified by means of volumetric, planimetric and ocular micrometer measurements, was statistically significant from the fourteenth day onwards. The compensatory growth particularly concerned the ordinary medullary cord cells and the fat laden cells. The latter cells kept their lipid globules and their characteristics remained unchanged. No indications of masculinization were seen apart from a significant reduction of the incidence of cortical rudiments. As a whole the right ovary preserved its characteristic structure. Arguments are brought forward to substantiate the concept that hyperfunction of the pituitary gland of the hemicastrate is responsible for the modifications observed.