17 Beta-estradiol secretion by the ovary of the hypophysectomized chick embryo

Ovaries of intact and hypophysectomized 16-day-old chick embryos were cultured in medium 199 for 24 hr, and 17 beta-estradiol released into the culture media was measured by radioimmunoassay. The difference of the means of the two series of measurements was not significant. It is concluded that 17 beta-estradiol secretion by the chick embryo ovary is not under pituitary control, at least not before the stage of 16 days of incubation.