Crew: A Hen Which Turned White 



303 



A MASS OF LUTEAR GRANULES 



Figure 6. The exact function of the 

 corpus luteum in birds is obscure Some 

 investigators believe it is responsible for 

 the development of typically female plum- 

 age. However, this view would receive 

 small support from the conditions found in 

 this case, as the great amount of lutein 

 present has not inhibited the development of 

 male plumage and of other male characters. 



able that the pigineiit-beariiig cells 

 of the fowl are formed, as in the 

 Maninials, from the theca interna and 

 are quite distinct from the islets. This 

 conception requires that the secondary 

 sexual characters might be controlled : 

 (a) by the islets, or (b) by the pigment 

 forming tissue. But as the latter tissue 

 is not present in the young pullet, it 

 would seem that the former are respon- 

 sible for the development of the female 

 type of plumage. Whichever view is 

 taken, however, the histological study 

 and the history of the fowl described in 

 this paper point to the conclusion that 

 ultimately, had she lived, she would 

 have assumed male plumage. 



From the examination of many other 

 cases (as yet unpublished) of atrophic 

 ovary in the hen, the conclusion has 

 been arrived at that the formation of 

 large quantities of pigment in the luteal 

 cells is a sign of degeneration, the final 

 stage of which is a structureless mass of 

 lutear pigment lying among the stroma. 

 If this is so, the cells in this case must 



have been almost functionless. On the 

 other hand, if the small groups of 

 clear cells are not homologous with the 

 lutein-forming cells and are respon- 

 sible for henny- feathering, then this 

 fowl would undoul:)tedly have assumed 

 the male type of plumage earlier since 

 in this case these islets are entirely 

 absent. 



The tumor was firmly adherent to 

 the dorsal body wall. After it had been 

 care full V reuKJved the adreiials were 

 sought for. Neither could l)e found 

 and from the relations of the tumor 

 it was thought that these glands had 

 become incorporated in the tumor. 

 Nothing suggesting adrenal tissue, 

 however, was identified on section of 

 the tumor. It was hoped that it could 

 be demonstrated that abnormality of 

 the adrenal was associated in this case 

 with the peculiar change in the pig- 

 mentation of the plumage. It is known 

 that abnormality of the adrenal in the 

 human is often associated with abnor- 

 mality in pigmentation, as in Addison's 

 disease. Save that neither adrenal 

 could be found, even after the most 

 careful search, nothing more can be 

 said. It is possible that the progressive 

 destruction of the adrenal was indeed 

 responsible for the gradual change 

 from black to white and that the com- 

 plete destruction of these glands re- 

 sulted in the death of the bird. 



Continuity of Adrenal and Ovary 



It has long l)een known that there 

 is an intimate relation between the 

 cortex of the adrenal and the gonad 

 in the earlier stages of development. 

 Alicroscopic examination, however, has 

 shown that the ovarian and cortical 

 tissues in the fowl are closely adherent 

 and in fact are histologically continuous 

 locally not only in the embryo but at 

 least up to the time of laying. No 

 previous reference to this point has 

 been encountered and so this opportu- 

 nity is taken to place the observation 

 on record. Under these circumstances 

 it is not remarkable that tumor-growth 

 of the ovary should involve the adrenal. 



