Figure 4
From: Exogenous estradiol improves shell strength in laying hens at the end of the laying period
Estrogen receptor α (ERα) immunolocalization in shell gland after estradiol 3-benzoate or placebo treatment. (a) Shell gland mucosal fold of Lohmann Brown (LB) hen treated with estradiol pellet, show weak cytosolic granular staining for ERα in surface epithelial cells (S) and unstained nuclei in both ciliated cells and non-ciliated cells. Tubular gland (G) cells show strong nuclear staining for ERα and weak cytosolic staining. Bar = 15 μm. (b) Intensity scoring of ERα in shell gland mucosal folds in Lohmann Selected Leghorn (LSL) hen and Lohmann Brown (LB) hens (n = 10). Score 1: weak or absent staining, score 2: intermediate staining, score 3: strong staining. Results are expressed as mean ± SE. **(P < 0.01).