Abstract
Reproductive traits and histology of the adenohypophysis were studied in adult White Leghorn cockerels after surgical thyroidectomy or .1% propylthiouracil (PTU) food supplementation. Both treatments caused hypothyroidism as judged by a marked reduction in plasma thyroxine levels, a decrease in resting metabolic rate values, an increase in liver and adipose tissue weights, and a marked elevation in the alcianophilic cell population in the adenohypophysis. Both the PTU-treated and thyroidectomized birds demonstrated reduced testes and comb weights. However, although thyroidectomy was found to increase the number of PAS-positive cells in the adenohypophysis, the PTU treatment reduced them. This phenomena is discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1720-1728 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Poultry Science |
Volume | 61 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1982 |