Suprarenal " Virilism " in a Domestic Hen , Its Possible Significance

THE great majority of hermaphrodites or sex reversals, hitherto described in domestic fowls, have been in old hens and have usually been associated with disease of the ovary and neoformation of testicular tissue. The present case differs essentially in several respects. It occurred in a Rhode Island Red pullet hatched in December 1934. The group to which it belonged began to lay in June 1935, and evidence will be later submitted favouring the view that this fowl was no exception, although, as trapnesting was not employed, of this there is no conclusive proof. In August 1935, it was noticed for the first time that this pullet differed very markedly from its group members by the possession of a very large, upright, "cocky" comb and wattles. This appearance still persisted in the beginning of September, the "cocky" head furnishings being very much in evidence. The configuration of the body and the colour of the plumage were typically "henny" and spurs were absent. It had never been known to crow and it took no special interest in the other hens. Owing to its age, it was unlikely that it had moulted. No eggs were laid between September ist and October 7th, on which date it was killed. Post-mortem examination showed that it was in a very healthy condition, with the ordinary bodily organs and tissues sound. In regard to the sexual organs, the ovary, though small, was not virgin, and, in all probability, the bird had been laying for some time prior to coming under observation. The body of the ovary had a coarse warty appearance, due to its surface being covered with small globular bodies of the size of turnip seed. These were solid and pedunculated and, on microscopic examination later, were found to consist of altered ovarian follicles. At the posterior end of the ovary, there was a pedunculated, round, solid, circumscribed tumour, of the size of a hazel nut, which passed forward anteriorly into a solid tongue of tissue, this extension being surrounded, on all sides, by a mass of cysts containing a clear jelly-like fluid. There was no evidence of growth of any kind from the site of the right gonad, nor was there any macroscopic appearance of the formation of testicular tissue, there or elsewhere. The suprarenals, to the naked eye, appeared normal in colour and shape, but the left was twice as large in diameter as the right. It is to be noted that there was no irregularity in outline of the left gland, such as might occur in a localised tumour formation.