Effect of chemical sympathectomy on serum levels of thyroid hormones and the biochemical profile of domestic pigeons.
Recent studies have stressed the importance of the cholinergic system on avian metabolism. However, the role of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) remains unclear. The present study was, therefore, aimed to probe the mechanisms for modulation of avian metabolism by the sympathetic nervous system after inhibition of the adrenergic responses. Activities of serum thyroid hormones (tri-iodothyronine, T3, and thyroxine, T4), body weight, hepatic weight, as well as total lipid and water content in the liver and body temperature were some of the parameters examined after chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and reserpine treatment in 24-h starved pigeons. In addition, glucose was administered to the pigeons to identify the regulatory role played by glucose after disruption of the SNS. A reduction in body weight of the pigeons and an enhancement in the lipogenic machinery along with a corresponding increase in water content were some of the obvious effects in 6-OHDA+reserpine treated, as well as glucose-loaded sympathectomized birds. The cloacal temperature (Tc) and both the thyroid hormones showed a drastic decrease while the T3/T4 ratio was augmented as a result of sympathectomy. However, serum T3 and T4 levels were restored to control values when glucose load was given, indicating that glucose might be reversing some of the detrimental effects of 6-OHDA treatment by activating intrinsic autoregulatory mechanisms of thyroid gland, thereby reviving the levels of thyroid hormones. Thus, the influence of SNS appears to be crucial in the maintenance of serum thyroid hormones and body temperature, as well as metabolic activities of hepatic cells.
Parikh
R
R
School of Environmental and Information Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia.
Pilo
B
B
D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D010856:Columbidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D016627:Oxidopamine; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013563:Sympathectomy, Chemical; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*
D013565:Sympatholytics; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D012110:Reserpine; D016627:Oxidopamine; D005947:Glucose