Corticosterone Levels in Adrenal Effluent Blood of Some Gallinaceous Birds.

Summary A method is described for obtaining samples of adrenal venous blood from the bird. This allows avian species to be used for routine in vivo studies designed to assess adrenal activity by direct measurement. Levels of corticosterone, expressed as μg %, in adrenal effluent and peripheral plasma were 42.4 and 7.8 in turkeys and 34.8 and 8.6 in pheasants. In domestic fowl the values were 44.3 and 7.3 in Wisco Whites: 48.8 and 12.3 in New Hampshires, and 37.0 and 9.5 in White Rocks. ACTH (8 I.U. intravenously) increased the output of corticosterone from 29.6 to 104.6 μg % in pheasants and from 30.7 to 143.7 μg % in chickens 60 minutes after injection.