AUTORADIOGRAPHIC AND HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE COCK'S COMB IN NORMAL AND HORMONALLY TREATED BIRDS1

The cock's comb undergoes histological and histochemical changes with the onset of puberty. Before puberty the corium of the comb is constituted mainly of fibrous connective tissue. After puberty the corium undergoes changes which transforms it into a loose variety of connective tissue with a predominance of ground substance. This ground substance stains metachromatically, gives a positive reaction with Hale's colloidal iron and Alcian Blue and displays an ability for the rapid incorporation of S35O4. These changes increased from the 15th to the 60th day of age. Testosterone locally applied to the comb of prepuberal birds changed the fibrous type of connective tissue into a mucoid one rich in mucopolysaccharides with and ability to rapidly incorporate S35O4. Castration of the post-puberal bird transformed the mucoid connective tissue to a fibrous type as seen in prepuberal birds. The tests for mucopolysaccharides became less intense or negative and the uptake of S35O4 was diminished. The histochemical reactions as well as the uptake of S35O4 decreased or became negative after treatment with hyaluronidase, or with barium hydroxide extraction, thus showing the presence of a sulfated mucopolysaccharide in the ground substance.