Abstract
Summary
The testes of immature ring doves are measurably stimulated by implants of 1 immature (29-44 days) rat pituitary daily for 10 days; one adult common pigeon pituitary daily for 10 days gives much greater stimulation; stimulation can be obtained from fewer than 5 adult pigeon pituitaries 30 pituitaries of immature but nearly full grown pigeons (1.8 to 2.3 months from beginning development) implanted in groups of 3 daily for 10 days give no detectable stimulation. These results confirm an earlier indication from growth rate of testes in these birds : Pigeons less than 2.3 months old (1.8 months after hatching) and ring doves of less than 3.0 months (2.5 months after hatching) are to be considered as animals in which the production of F.S.H. has not yet been initiated. When anterior pituitary hormones, or extracts of this tissue, are injected into these birds it must be granted that their action is obtained on an intact organism free from follicle-stimulating hormone, and that the injected material serves neither to reduce nor to induce an output of F.S.H. from the bird's own pituitary.
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