Female Feathering in Sebright Cocks Is Due to Conversion of Testosterone to Estradiol in Skin

1981/07/31 by Fredrick W. George, Janet F. Noble, Jean D. Wilson · 25 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Medicine · #Reproductive Physiology in Livestock #Sperm and Testicular Function #Testosterone (patch) #Castration #Endocrinology #Internal medicine #Biology #Androgen #Medicine #Hormone

paper · doi:10.1126/science.213.4507.557

published in Science 213(4507), 557-559 (American Association for the Advancement of Science)

openalex publication_date 1981/07/31 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Sebright cocks develop a female feathering pattern but revert to normal male feathering after castration. Administration of testosterone to castrated cocks causes male comb development and reappearance of female feathering. Dihydrotes-tosterone treatment supports development of a male comb but does not induce female feathering. Since testosterone but not dihydrotestosterone is converted to estradiol in the skin of the Sebright, the female feathering appears to be the result of increased conversion of testosterone to estradiol.

Citations

• Increased estrogen formation and aromatase activity in fibroblasts cultured from the skin of chickens with the Henny feathering trait.

Cited by

• Sebright chicken [wikipedia]