Keith I. Brown

Evidence for the presence of 15-hydroxylated estrogens in the peripheral plasma of the laying turkey.

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to describe the estrogens other than estrone, estradiol, and estriol present in turkey plasma. Five peaks of radioimmunoassayable (RIA) estrogenic activity were detected with an estriol antiserum in ether extracts of laying turkey plasma after high-pressure liquid chromatography on a silica gel column. Estrone and estradiol were the first two peaks. Derivatives of peaks three (U 1 ), four (U 2 a), and five (U 2 b) were prepared and subjected to gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. 15β-OH-estrone and 15α-OH-estrone were tentatively identified in U 1 . U 2 a was tentatively identified as 15β-OH-estradiol, and U 2 b as 15α-OH-estradiol. Reference compounds 15α-OH-estrone and 15α-OH-estradiol have been obtained. When subjected to HPLC the retention time of 15α-OH-estrone was found to correspond to the trailing edge of U 1 , and the retention time of 15α-OH-estradiol was identical to peak five (U 2 b). The definitive identification of 15β-OH-estrone and 15β-OH-estradiol awaits the availability of pure reference compounds. The presence of 15α-OH-estrone and 15α-OH-estradiol in turkey plasma in significant quantities suggests that further research concerning their physiological function is needed.

Chemical and biological evidence for presence of estrogens in the domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Abstract Solvent partitioning, column chromatography on activated alumina, and Ittrich extraction of Kober chromogens were employed to isolate, identify and quantitate estrone, estradiol-17B and estriol from blood of individual turkey hens. The intravaginal tetrazolium method was used to estimate the biological potencies of the three fractions separated chromatographically. The data show that estrone is the main estrogen present in heart blood of laying turkeys, with lesser amounts of estradiol-17B and estriol. Data are presented on the accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and specificity of the methodology used.