Effects of daily corticosterone injections upon plasma glucose, insulin, uric acid and electrolytes and food intake pattern in the chicken.
The effect of daily injections of corticosterone (about 0.85 or 4.3 mg/day) on corticosterone-insulin interactions were investigated in ad libitum-fed chickens. The short term (0-5 hr after the injection) hyperglycaemic effect of corticosterone was accompanied by an increase in plasma uric acid levels but was not associated with consistent changes of alpha-amino non protein nitrogen, potassium, sodium or insulin. On the 8th and 15th days of experiment and after an overnight fast (i.e. about 20 hrs after an injection of corticosterone), the responses to a test-meal were measured and glucose tolerance was estimated. Birds receiving 4.3 mg corticosterone showed increased plasma glucose levels when fasting and just after (15 min) the test-meal and the glucose load. Glucose tolerance was slightly improved in birds injected with 0.85 mg corticosterone. In both tests, plasma levels of alpha-amino non protein nitrogen and possibly, uric acid (initial post-stimulation stages in birds treated with 4.3 mg corticosterone) were increased by corticosterone treatment, suggesting catabolism of amino acids. Additionally, in both tests, plasma insulin levels were increased in corticosterone-treated animals. Fasting plasma potassium levels were only decreased by the 4.3 mg dose of corticosterone. Plasma sodium levels were decreased 45-90 min following the test-meal, in all animals including controls. This effect remains unexplained. Following both the test-meal and the glucose tolerance test, plasma potassium levels decreased transiently. This effect may be compared to the hypokalaemic effect of exogenous insulin in mammals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D010507:Periodicity; D013997:Time Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004573:Electrolytes; D007328:Insulin; D014527:Uric Acid; D003345:Corticosterone