Studies on the formation of serum proteins in the fowl.

In oviparous vertebrates each period of egg production is associated with profound changes in blood chemistry, in physiology and in morphology of the female. The plasma changes include increased concentrations of certain proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals and these changes are considered to be related to the mobilization of these compounds for egg formation. In addition to the normal puberal changes, which, as in the mammal, are related to endocrine activity, similar and even greater increases in these plasma constituents result from estrogen treatment of birds of either sex or of castrates