Flight effects on plasma levels of neurohypophysial hormones in homing pigeons.
A significant increase in the circulating levels of arginine vasotocin (AVT), without change in plasma osmolality, was observed in homing pigeons immediately after a flight of 48 km, lasting 60-80 min. This increase in plasma AVT is perceived as part of an overall homeostatic mechanism of mobilizing lipid as fuel for the flight muscles, of water conservation and temperature regulation in the body during the homing flight within the specific distance and duration of flight and under normal weather conditions. However, there was no change in plasma levels of mesotocin (MT) which suggests that the birds were under no significant stress during the flight.
George
J C
JC
Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Ont., Canada.
John
T M
TM
Koike
T I
TI
D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000097:blood*; D010856:Columbidae / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005426:Flight, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood
D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; C001713:mesotocin; D010121:Oxytocin