Gonad-specific uptake of H-Y antigen in the chicken

Soluble H-Y antigen of the mouse is bound in testicular cells of the ZZ chicken, and not in cells of the ZZ blood, bursa, kidney, liver or spleen. This implies occurrence in birds of a gonad-specific receptor for H-Y. Since H-Y is present in ZW females and not in ZZ males, reaction of H-Y and its gonadal receptor may be critical to development of the ZW ovary.