Testicular regulation of sexual dimorphisms in the ultradian profiles of circulating growth hormone in the chicken
Pampori NA, Shapiro BH. Testicular regulation of sexual dimorphisms in the ultradian profiles of circulating growth hormone in the chicken. Eur J Endocrinol 1994;131:313–318. ISSN 0804–4643 Ultradian patterns in plasma growth hormone (GH) concentrations were determined in adult white Leghorn roosters, hens and capons. Serial blood samples were collected every 15 min over 8 h through surgically placed chronic indwelling right atrial catheters and assayed for GH content by a homologous radioimmunoassay. In both sexes, GH levels fluctuated episodically, with peak and interpeak periods each lasting about 45 min in both roosters and hens. However, GH concentrations in the peaks and nadirs were 2.5–3.5 times greater in the plasma GH profiles of roosters as compared to hens, which resulted in roosters having higher mean GH concentrations. Caponizing completely feminized the episodic GH secretory profile. In contrast to chickens, the common sexually dimorphic feature in secretory GH profiles of mammals is the enhanced peak frequencing found in females. Bernard H Shapiro, Laboratories of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6048, USA