The pituitary-adrenal axis in the bird

Abstract

Significant atrophy of the adrenal gland of the bird was obtained with either cortisol or corticosterone. Cortisone also induced atrophy of the adrenal gland but much higher doses were required than for the other two hormones. Similarly, cortisol and corticosterone inhibited bursa weight at much lower doses than did cortisone. Porcine ACTH suspended in a beeswax-oil mixture increased the relative weight of the adrenal gland by 40 to 193% following treatment with 1 to 10 USP units daily for 7 days. These results indicate the presence of some pituitary control over the adrenal gland of the bird but do not disprove partial independence of the adrenal from the anterior pituitary gland.