Abstract
IT was first shown by Kyes and Potter1 that, during reproductive activity, the marrow cavities of the bones of female pigeons become filled with endosteal bone. It is thought that this medullary bone is formed under the synergistic action of the androgens and œstrogens2 which are produced in the female bird during the breeding season. Similarly, injections of œstrogens induce the formation of medullary bone in male birds. Medullary bone differs from cortical bone histologically3,4, and it appears to act as a labile calcium store which can be mobilized rapidly during the formation of the eggshell.
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References
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SIMKISS, K. Influence of Large Doses of Œstrogens on the Structure of the Bones of Some Reptiles. Nature 190, 1217–1218 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/1901217c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1901217c0
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