The Effect of Progesterone and Estradiol-17 fJ on the Pigment Accumulation of the Shell Gland in Japanese Quail Pretreated with Aminoglutethimide

Effects of the combined injection with progesterone and estradiol-17 (3 i.m. on the accumulation of the superficial pigment of the eggshell in the quail shell gland were investigated. Arninoglutethimide (AG, 20rng/100g BW) was administered s.c. to quail hens 10 h before the expected ovulation, followed by the administration of progesterone (0.1 rng/100 g BW) and estradiol-17 {1 (0.1 rng/100g BW). Pigment in the shell gland at 18 h after oviposition of the preceding egg was measured. Progesterone had increasing effect on pigment in the shell gland of both hens ovulated and failed to ovulate. The effect of combined injection with progesterone and estradiol-17 (3 was appeared only if ovulation was induced and estradiol-17 (3 was injected 1 h after oviposition of the preceding egg. These results suggested that the accumulation of pigment in the shell gland was enhanced by estradiol-17 (3 closely related to egg formation.