Abstract
Summary
The unique uptake of fluid into the Musculus complexus (“hatching muscle”) of the chick beginning 3 or 4 days prior to hatching, apparently a necessity for successful hatching, was influenced positively by progesterone, 16-hydroxyprogesterone? and 17-hydroxyprogesterone; but negatively or not at all by cortisone, estradiol-17β, and testosterone. The possibility of the formation of a specific hatching hormone by hydroxylation of progesterone is suggested.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.