The chicken as a model organism

Abstract

Selection of appropriate animal models is essential to the advancement of basic and clinical research. This chapter provides an overview of the reproductive biology of the chicken (Gallus domesticus), also known as the domestic hen, and then introduces the chicken as a model for investigations of mechanisms controlling ovarian follicular growth and maturation, ovulation, and changes in ovarian function with aging. The chicken is currently the only animal model available to probe the etiology and progression of human ovarian cancer as well as to test chemotherapy agents. Finally the chicken is an ideal model for toxicology studies because of its sensitivity and rapid response to environmental toxicants and expression of external indicators, e.g., number of eggs laid, thickness of shell, as a mark of toxic exposure. © 2008 Humana Press Inc.