title: In vivo studies on the effects of ovine corticotrophin-releasing hormone, arginine vasotocin, arginine vasopressin, and haloperidol on adrenocortical function in the racing pigeon (Columba livia domestica).
abstract: This study investigates the effects of in vivo administration of pituitary stimulants in racing pigeons (Columba livia domestica). Plasma corticosterone concentrations were measured following intravenous administration of ovine corticotrophin-releasing hormone (oCRH) (0.1, 1, 10, and 100 micrograms/kg), arginine vasopressin (AVP) (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 micrograms/kg), arginine vasotocin (AVT) (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 5 micrograms/kg), and haloperidol (0.05, 0.5, and 5 micrograms/kg). Compared with mammals the pituitary-adrenocortical system of the pigeon appeared to be less sensitive to stimulation with oCRH, although high doses were well tolerated and gave a clear response. Both AVP and AVT stimulated corticosterone secretion, AVT in a more pronounced dose-dependent manner than AVP. The natural neurohypophysial peptide in birds, AVT, was less well tolerated in high doses than AVP. The clear response to haloperidol indicates that the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical system is under dopaminergic inhibition. Of the pituitary stimulants tested AVP (10 micrograms/kg) and oCRH (100 micrograms/kg) are the most appropriate for testing the integrity of the pituitary-adrenocortical system in the pigeon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Westerhof
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lumeij
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: van den Brom
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rijnberk
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010856:Columbidae / Q000502:physiology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D012756:Sheep; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006220:Haloperidol; D014668:Vasotocin; D003345:Corticosterone