Role of the “Bearing Down” Reflex on Oviposition in the Chicken1

Abstract
White Leghorn hens with hard-shelled eggs in the uterus were curarized and then injected with vasopressin, which causes contraction of uterus and vagina. Birds receiving only vasopressin served as controls. The control birds laid within 3 to 5 minutes after injection of vasopressin. In the curarized birds receiving vasopressin, the time of oviposition was about 7 minutes. These data indicate that abdominal muscles and press facilitate oviposition but do not play an important role in it.

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