The effect of nutritional state and hormones on the number of circulating red cells in Gallus domesticus.
When chickens are fasted, the liver becomes dark, whereas the spleen is bleached. Microscopic and spectrophotometric analysis indicated the colour resulted from red blood cells accumulating in enlarged sinusoids of the liver. In birds fasted for 48 hr the hematocrit increases 30%. Blood volume and red cell volume are not altered; the extra cells are not newly synthesised. The extra cells arise from the spleen, possibly under alpha-adrenergic control if given epinephrine by injection and under beta-adrenergic control during fasting as indicated by experiments with alpha and beta-receptor blocking agents.
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005215:Fasting; D005934:Glucagon / Q000494:pharmacology; D006400:Hematocrit; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000494:pharmacology
D013565:Sympatholytics; D014667:Vasopressins; D005934:Glucagon; D004837:Epinephrine