Adenohypophyseal cytology of chemically and surgically thyroidectomized cockerels.
Reproductive traits and histology of the adenohypophysis were studied in adult White Leghorn cockerels after surgical thyroidectomy or .1% propylthiouracil (PTU) food supplementation. Both treatments caused hypothyroidism as judged by a marked reduction in plasma thyroxine levels, a decrease in resting metabolic rate values, an increase in liver and adipose tissue weights, and a marked elevation in the alcianophilic cell population in the adenohypophysis. Both the PTU-treated and thyroidectomized birds demonstrated reduced testes and comb weights. However, although thyroidectomy was found to increase the number of PAS-positive cells in the adenohypophysis, the PTU treatment reduced them. This phenomena is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D003129:Comb and Wattles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology*; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000494:pharmacology; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013965:Thyroidectomy
D011441:Propylthiouracil