BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF

ANDROGEN ON MALE
AND FEMALE CHICKS
BY: CERRERO, FERIA, MOLINA, VALIDO

INTRODUCTION
ANDROGEN is essential in the maintenance of male secondary sexual
characteristics as well as in the animals growth and differentiation. It is also
responsible in the development and maintenance of tissues and organs.
Types of Androgen:
1. Testosterone
2. Dihydrotestosterone

Testosterone
Produced by the Leydig interstitial cells which is the principal hormone for male
characterization (eg. development of muscle, strength, libido, bones and growth)
In avian species:
1. massive muscle and bone growth
2. pigmentation of scales and shanks
3. plumage
4. development of wattle and comb

Methodology
Materials:
one day-old chicks (2 male and 2 female)
Tuberculin syringe with gauge 26 needles
Testosterone
Weighing scale

Dissecting instruments

Methodology
Treated group (1 male and 1 female)
0.1 ml testosterone IM every other day for 21 days

Control group (1 male and 1 female)

0.1 ml distilled water IM every other day for 21 days

*2mL of testosterone in total

RESULTS
Table 1. Body weight (g) in control and testosterone-treated birds.
Week 0

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Control male

43.4

71.2

116

Treated male

42.3

83.5

160

Control female

41.7

74.3

102

Treated female

44.8

75.7

106

Results
Comb control
(0 wk)

Comb control
(1st wk)

Comb control
(2nd wk)

Comb control
(3rd wk)

Comb treated
(0 wk)

Comb treated
(1st wk)

Comb treated
(2nd wk)

Comb treated
(3rd wk)

Results
Table 2. Comb growth (height in mm) in control and testosterone-treated birds.
Week 0

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Control male

0.3

0.6

2.1

3.3

Treated male

0.3

0.6

2.3

4.6

Control female

0.3

0.5

Treated female

0.3

0.5

Results
Table 3. Comb growth (width in mm) in control and testosterone-treated birds.
.
Week 0
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Control male

0.3

Treated male

0.3

Control female

0.3

Treated female

0.3

10

Results
Table 4. Wattle growth in control and testosterone-treated birds.
.
Week 0
Week 1
Week 2

Week 3

Control male

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Treated male

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Control female

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Treated female

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Results
Table 5. Feather growth (in cm) in control and testosterone-treated birds.
.
Week 0
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Control male

13.5

20.5

Treated male

12.5

19

Control female

Treated female

Results
Feather control

Feather control

Feather control

Feather control

(0 wk)

(1st wk)

(2nd wk)

(3rd wk)

Feather treated

Feather treated

Feather treated

Feather treated

(0 wk)

(1st wk)

(2nd wk)

(3rd wk)

Results
Table 6. Changes in the color of shanks in control and testosterone-treated birds.
.
Week 0
Week 1
Week 2
Control male

Light yellow

Yellowish

Yellowish to
brown

Treated male

Light yellow

Yellowish

Yellowish

Control female

Light yellow

Yellowish

Yellowish

Treated female

Light yellow

yellowish

Brownish

Results
Shank control

Shank control

Shank control

Shank control

(0 wk)

(1st wk)

(2nd wk)

(3rd wk)

Shank treated

Shank treated

Shank treated

Shank treated

(0 wk)

(1st wk)

(2nd wk)

(3rd wk)

Results
Table 8. Changes in meat quality, fat deposits, weight of ovaries, oviduct and testes
in control and testosterone-treated birds.
Meat quality

Fat deposits

Testes

Ovaries

Control male

Soft

Few

Smaller

Treated male

Tender

Few

small

Control female

Soft

Minimal

Prominent

Treated female

Tender

Many

recognizable
but small

Discussion
Embryonic structures producing sex hormones in male and female chick embryos
- The gonads of the chick embryo are bipotential and can turn to ovaries or testes during the 5th to 7th
day of incubation. The undifferentiated gonad has two parts: the inner medulla which is a potential
testicular tissue that produces androgens and the outer cortex which is a potential ovarian tissue that
produces estrogens. These hormones are also present in considerable amounts in the adrenal glands of
the chicken embryo.

What are the functions of the fetal androgen in the male chick embryo?
- The fetal androgen in male chicks functions in the development of the male reproductive tract
through stimulating the Wolffian duct and in the sexual differentiation of the brain to a male pattern of
behavior. Also, it plays a role in the development of secondary sex characteristics as the chicks mature
such as comb and spur growth, male feathering and copulatory behavior.

What are the functions of the fetal estrogen in the female chick embryo?
The fetal estrogen in female chicks functions in the development of the female gonads through
developing the Mullerian duct and in the sexual differentiation of the brain to a female pattern of
behavior. It also plays a role in female feathering patterns and in inhibiting the male phenotypic and
behavioral expression.

Discussion
Effect of androgen treatment on non-reproductive and reproductive behaviors in pubertal male
chickens
They tend to fight and crow more.
Increased feed intake and competitiveness

Effect of exogenous estrogen treatment on secondary sexual characteristics of males

Reduced comb height and length

Reduced adipose accumulation
Smaller feet
Smaller length of beak

Effect of exogenous androgen treatment on secondary sexual characteristics of females

Increase in length and width of comb

Increase in length of beak
Larger feet
Higher lipid accumulation

Discussion
What will be the effect of in utero exposure to estrogen of male embryos on the male
reproductive tract and accessory sex gland development?

In utero exposure to estrogen of male embryos can lead to testicular development

disorders that can lead to alterations in the fertility of adult male. Since fetal and neonatal testes
are sensitive to estrogen, it can lead to lower testosterone levels, micropenis, and disorganized
testes. Estrogen exposure can also lead to hypospadias and cryptorchidism.
What will be the effect of in utero exposure to androgen of female embryos on the female
reproductive tract and accessory sex gland development?
in utero exposure to androgen of female embryos can lead to development of masculine
characteristics and developmental disorders such as anovulation, increased anogenital distance
(AGD), absence of nipples, and agenesis of lower vagina.

Discussion
Explain sex reversal with the use of aromatase inhibitors in undifferentiated genetic female
embryos.

Estrogen is produced through conversion of aromatizable androgens by cytochrome

p450 aromatase (p450arom) and its action is important for sex differentiation and ovarian
development in animals.
Aromatase inhibitors inhibit this conversion that results to decrease in estrogen levels
followed by increase in androgen levels which can lead to female-to-male sex change or sex
reversal.

Reference
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Lorenz, F.W. (n.d.) Estrogens for Fattening Poulrty. California Agriculture.

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