Concentration of steroid sex hormones in the plasma of hens in relation to oviduct tumours

Abstract

1. The concentrations of 17 beta-oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were determined in the plasma of layer breeder hens at the end of their first laying season, in relation to neoplasms of the oviduct, including magnum tumours and leiomyomas. 2. The plasma concentration of E2 was higher in tumorous than in non-tumorous hens indicating it may be involved in the development of oviduct tumours. 3. The plasma concentrations of P in tumorous and non-tumorous hens were not significantly different, suggesting no active role of P in the aetiology of the tumours. 4. The E2: P ratio was higher in tumorous than in non-tumorous hens. This ratio could be of value in predicting hens at risk of developing oviduct tumours.

Leiomyomas of Oviduct and Its Ventral Ligament of Hens: Immunohistochemical Evaluation and the Plasma Concentration Levels of 17 β-Oestradiol and Progesterone

“…Fredrickson et al [11] has found no correlation between the plasma concentration of these hormones and the magnum glandular tumours. On the other hand, Anjum and Payne [5] reported that plasma concentration of oestrogen but not progesterone was higher in hens with oviduct tumours than in non-tumourous hens. In the present study, plasma concentration levels of both 17 β-oestradiol and progesterone were found higher in laying hens with leiomyomas of oviduct and it's VL.…”

“…Therefore, such hormones were thought to play important roles in the development of genital organ tumours [5,20,21] . The dorsal oviductal ligament suspends the oviduct and continues ventrally as the fanlike oviduct VL the free edge of which is reinforced by smooth muscle.…”

“…Fredrickson et al [8] reported that there were no changes in the plasma concentrations of oestrogen and progesterone in oviduct gland tumours. In addition, such studies on the plasma concentrations of oestrogen and progesterone in leiomyomas of the oviduct VL are limited [5] . However, there are no studies investigating the association between these hormones and the leiomyomas of oviduct.…”

“…Oestrogen and progesterone hormones were suggested to have etiological importance on the tumourogenesis of the oviduct magnum region adenomas, oviduct adenocarcinomas and leiomyomas of the oviduct VL [1,5] . However, no such tumours could experimentally be induced in chicks by administration of only oestrogen or progesterone [1] .…”

“…They are benign and consist of smooth muscle fibers located in a fibrous stroma [1] . Leiomyomas of the oviduct VL commonly arise after the end of a laying period [5] . They can reach considerable dimensions without impairing production in layer hens [6] .…”