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Science 31 July 1981:
Vol. 213. no. 4507, pp. 557 - 559
DOI: 10.1126/science.213.4507.557
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Articles

Female Feathering in Sebright Cocks Is Due to Conversion of Testosterone to Estradiol in Skin

FREDRICK W. GEORGE 1, JANET F. NOBLE 1, and JEAN D. WILSON 1

1 Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas 75235

Sebright cocks develop a female feathering pattern but revert to normal male feathering after castration. Administration of testosterone to castrated cocks causes male comb development and reappearance of female feathering. Dihydrotes-tosterone treatment supports development of a male comb but does not induce female feathering. Since testosterone but not dihydrotestosterone is converted to estradiol in the skin of the Sebright, the female feathering appears to be the result of increased conversion of testosterone to estradiol.

Submitted on March 23, 1981
Revised on May 18, 1981

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)