Inhibition of Adrenal Steroidogenesis, Neonatal Feed Restriction, and Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Response to Subsequent Fasting in Chickens

White Plymouth Rock chickens placed under 60% feed restriction or ad libitum feeding, with or without metyrapone (adrenal blocking agent) treatment, from 4 to 6 days of age were subjected to either 8 or 24 hr feed deprivation at 36 days of age. Chicks subjected to the neonatal 60% feed restriction (...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:General and comparative endocrinology 1995, Vol.97 (1), p.49-56
Main Authors: Zulkifli, I., Siegel, H.S., Mashaly, M.M., Dunnington, E.A., Siegel, P.B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenal Glands - metabolism
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - blood
Aging
Animals
Chickens - physiology
Corticosterone - blood
Food Deprivation - physiology
Leukocyte Count
Metyrapone - pharmacology
Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology
Poultry Diseases - physiopathology
Stress, Physiological - physiopathology
Stress, Physiological - veterinary
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Summary:White Plymouth Rock chickens placed under 60% feed restriction or ad libitum feeding, with or without metyrapone (adrenal blocking agent) treatment, from 4 to 6 days of age were subjected to either 8 or 24 hr feed deprivation at 36 days of age. Chicks subjected to the neonatal 60% feed restriction (60R) but not those provided metyrapone during the procedure (60M) had elevated heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratios. However, there was no difference in plasma corticosterone and ACTH responses between 60R and 60M chicks. Except for increases in H/L and plasma corticosterone concentrations among ad libitum fed (AL) and 60M chickens, respectively, there was no indication of stress response attributable to the subsequent 8 hr fast. Feed withdrawal for 24 h did not cause rises in H/L ratios and plasma levels of corticosterone of chicks that had been subjected to early 60% feed restriction with nonmetyrapone-treated feed. In contrast, chicks of other regimens had elevated H/L and plasma corticosterone responses when exposed to a similar procedure. Except for those fed ad libitum during the neonatal stage, circulating levels of ACTH declined following the 24-hr fast. These results demonstrate that stress early in life without concurrent rises in circulating corticosteroid levels may not help the biological system in coping with subsequent stressors.
ISSN:0016-6480
1095-6840
DOI:10.1006/gcen.1995.1005