Relationship of oestrogen and progesterone and their oviductal receptors in laying and non-laying 5-year-old hens

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Abstract
This study focuses on the relationship of ageing to reproductive function in the domestic hen. Reproductive function was assessed by egg-laying records of hens from the same flock of 4, 5 and 6 years of age. Egg laying decreased with advancing age and the percentage of non-laying hens increased. During an ovulatory cycle, plasma levels of oestrogen and progesterone (including the preovulatory surge) were similar in both the 5-year-old and 1-year-old laying hens. In both young and old non-laying hens, the preovulatory surge of progesterone was absent. Levels of oestrogen were similar for all hens, but the oestrogen-dependent oviduct was atrophied in non-laying 5-year-old hens. This reduction in oviductal size was correlated with reduced levels of magnal nuclear oestrogen receptor and cytosol progesterone receptor. These results suggest a refractoriness of the oviduct to oestrogen stimulation in the ageing hen. J. Endocr. (1985) 106, 343–348

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