Normal Pigeons Research Articles

Haematological changes associated with haemorrhage in the pigeon

1. 1. Haematological changes associated with haemorrhage in the pigeon have been investigated. 2. 2. Haematocrit, haemoglobin, and plasma protein concentrations decreased immediately post-haemorrhage, fluctuated and returned to normal or were slightly elevated after 10 weeks. Plasma osmolality increased immediately post-haemorrhage, then decreased and returned to normal after 2 weeks. The MCHC value was significantly higher than the pre-haemorrhage value after 10 weeks. 3. 3. Four haemoglobin bands were found on electrophoresis of normal pigeon blood. Marked changes in the percentage composition of the haemoglobin electrophoretogram were observed after haemorrhage and these returned to pre-haemorrhage values after 10 weeks. 4. 4. The results are discussed in relation to the ability of pigeons to withstand haemorrhage.

On the role of the pineal in thermoregulation in the pigeon.

Diurnal rhythm in body temperature of pigeons subjected to different experimental conditions (pinealectomized, sham-operated, melatonin-implanted, cold-exposed) was studied under a 12 h light and 12 h dark regimen. The body temperature of pigeons during photophase was higher than that during scotophase in the normal as well as every treatment group studied. Pinealectomized pigeons showed higher body temperature in the photophase as well as scotophase, than that of the normal and sham-operated birds when examined 2 or 3 weeks following the post-surgical acclimatization to 25 or 3 degrees C. However, subcutaneous implantation of melatonin pellets into pinealectomized pigeons nullified or even reversed the hyperthermic effect of pinealectomy. Exposure of pigeons to--18 degrees C for 280 min during photophase as well as scotophase, produced a marked drop in body temperature in pinealectomized, sham-operated and normal pigeons. The pinealectomized pigeons exhibited a higher body temperature than that of the sham-operated and normal ones when exposed to--18 degrees C during the photophase, but not during the scotophase. It was concluded that while the pineal is not necessary for maintaining the daily thermal rhythm in the avian body, it has a thermoregulatory role, in that it prevents rise in body temperature in warm (25 degrees C) acclimatized and chronic cold (3 degrees C) exposed birds. In acute short-term cold (--18 degrees C) exposure however, the temperature regulatory role of the pineal was not effective during the scotophase.

Effects of a “permanent” clock-shift on the orientation of young homing pigeons

1. Young pigeons kept under a 6-h-slow photoperiod from the time of weaning and allowed to see the sun during the afternoon (=their subjective morning) did not depart from test release sites with the 90° deflection ordinarily seen in 6-h-slow clock-shifted pigeons; their orientation did not differ from that of controls. Later exposure of these birds to normal time had the same effect on them as a 6-h-fast clock-shift has on normal pigeons, i.e. it produced a 90° counterclockwise deflection of their bearings. Thus these “permanently” clock-shifted pigeons had learned to read the sun compass in an unusual manner (“morning” sun azimuth=south, etc.). Hence the birds' coupling of time, sun azimuth, and geographic direction is not inherited, but is established by experience. 2. After one or two homing flights in the natural day, the former permanently clock-shifted pigeons oriented correctly, like the controls. When, after one to three months, they were put back under the 6-h-slow conditions of their early development, they did not show the reaction of normal clock-shifted birds. It appeared that they had downgraded the importance of the sun compass and, though probably still using it to some extent, were orienting primarily via other cues. However, when held under normal conditions for a year and then re-shifted 6 h slow, the birds gave deflected bearings. They had apparently recalibrated their sun compass according to the conditions in the natural day, and had resumed using it as a primary cue. 3. Since these results indicate that the calibration of the sun compass by young pigeons is learned, and moreover that the sun compass can later be recalibrated, the question of the underlying reference system for that calibration is raised. Two possibilities are discussed: calibration of the sun compass relative to the magnetic compass, or relative to the coordinates of the navigational “map”. The results thus far do not provide a basis for choosing between these.

Bar magnets mask the effect of normal magnetic disturbances on pigeon orientation

In a previous publication we reported a correlation between normal fluctuations of the earth's magnetic field and the day-to-day variations in the initial bearings chosen by homing pigeons released repeatedly at a single test site under sunny skies. We here examine the question whether this correlation reflects a cause-and-effect relationship. A series of 20 test releases was conducted in 1974 to compare the bearings of pigeons wearing bar magnets glued to their backs with the bearings of pigeons wearing brass bars. As in a pilot series conducted in 1970, the day-to-day variations in the bearings of the birds wearing brasses were inversely correlated with the variations in the K index of magnetic disturbance, whereas no such correlation was found for the bearings of the birds wearing magnets. We conclude that the magnets mask the effect of the K fluctuations, which suggests that it is the magnetic events themselves that influence the orientational response of normal pigeons. This conclusion is further supported by a demonstration that bar magnets, like natural magnetic disturbances, deflect the birds' bearings to the left.

Stimulation of cholesterol esterification in vitro in organ cultures of normal pigeon aorta

The ability of cholesterol esterification to be stimulated in vitro was studied in organ cultures of White Carneau pigeon aorta. Aortic segments from pigeons, less than four months of age and without grossly visible atherosclerosis, were maintained in organ culture with tissue culture medium containing from 5–60% normo- (NCS) or hypercholesterolemic (HCS) pigeon serum. Esterification of oleic acid-1-14C and cholesterol-1,2-3H was measured after 1–9 days in culture. Incorporation of oleic acid-1-14C into phospholipids and triglycerides was stimulated a maximum of 2-fold in cultures containing HCS. This stimulation was influenced by the oleic acid content of the culture medium with increased incorporation into phospholipids and triglycerides occurring when cultured in media containing higher concentrations of oleic acid. Under the same conditions, esterification of oleic acid-1-14C to cholesterol was stimulated as much as 7-fold and was independent of both the concentration of oleic acid in the culture medium and the uptake of oleic acid-1-14C into the arterial segments. Stimulation of esterification to cholesterol was seen as early as 1 day after culture with HCS. When different concentrations of NCS or HCS were added to the culture medium the stimulation of cholesterol esterification was proportional to the concentration of cholesterol in the culture medium up to a concentration of 2–4 mg/ml. Associated with the increased cholesterol esterification was an increase in the cholesteryl ester content of the arterial segments and the appearance of both intra- and extracellular lipid droplets.

Localization of granules stained artifactually with the Fink-Heimer technique in certain brain stem nuclei of the pigeon.

AbstractSections of normal pigeon brain treated with the Fink‐Heimer technique frequently show granular deposits, suggestive of degenerating synaptic terminals, in relation to the soma of cells in the nucleus ruber and formatio reticularis. Electron microscopic examination of such reactive cells shows the argyrophilic granules to be intracellular inclusions which have the appearance of catecholamines.

Diurnal rhythm of corticotropin-releasing factor activity in the pigeon hypothalamus.

An attempt was made to detect diurnal periodicity in the hypothalamic content of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) activity in the normal pigeon (Columba livia) employing the intrapituitary microinjection method. It was found that CRF activity in the pigeon hypothalamus exhibits a typical diurnal rhythm, with its peak value at 6 a.m. and its trough at 8 p.m. under a lighting regimen of 12-h light and 12-h dark daily cycle. Moreover, this rhythm of CRF activity was shown to be well correlated with a diurnal rhythm of plasma corticosterone level with a definite phase shift. These findings support the concept that the diurnal periodicity of plasma corticosteroid level in the pigeon, originates in the cyclic phases of the releasing factor within the hypothalamus. The physiological significance of these findings is discussed with special reference to the hypothalamic regulation of adrenocorticotropin secretion in the pigeon.

Clinical ornithosis in a New Zealand aviary

Abstract Extract Clinical ornithosis (psittacosis) in man and birds was first reported in New Zealanc following importations of parrots from Australia in 1953 and 1954 (Fastier and Austin, 1954; Jeffery, 1954; Murray et al. 1954; Cairney, 1954). Apart from one human infection resulting from exposure to the ornithosis agent in a laboratory (Fastier and Austin, 1954), the clinical disease has been reported only in imported birds and in human beings who have come into con-tact with them. In 1959, Miles isolated the causative agent from nine clinically normal domestic pigeons and a wild rosella, thus demonstrating the presence of latent carriers of the organism in this country.

Brain glycoprotein 10B: further evidence of the "sign-post" role of brain glycoproteins in cell recognition, its change in brain tumor, and the presence of a "distance factor".

Brain glycoprotein 10B was first isolated from normal brain tissue and from brain tumors in 1964 (3). 10B was also isolated from a brain tumor of the ependymoma-glioma type grown subcutaneously in mouse (4), from normal cat hippocampus and caudate nuclei (4), from normal mouse brain, normal pigeon brain, and from subcellular fractions of guinea pig brain (4). 10B is structurally distinguished from microtubule protein (21), S100 protein (18), antigen α (2) and the alkylated brain protein (15). Antisera prepared to brain 10B did not react with proteins of other organs or serum (5).

The effect of oxotremorine on the "free" and "bound" brain acetylcholine concentrations and motor activity in beri-beri pigeons.

Oxotremorine (0.125 mg/kg i.v.) did not produce a significant change in the "free" and "bound" brain acetylcholine in beri-beri pigeons, while in normal pigeons a significant increase was obtained. Oxotremorine caused tremor in normal pigeons. In beri-beri pigeons oxotremorine did not induce tremor but the compound potentiated beri-beri symptoms (opisthotonus and convulsions).

Uptake and esterification of exogenous cholesterol by organ cultures of normal and atherosclerotic pigeon aorta.

SummaryAn organ culture system is described in which segments of pigeon aorta have been maintained in a metabolically active state for up to 9 days. Using this system, we have studied the uptake and metabolism of cholesterol-1,2-3H and oleic acid-1-14C by normal and atherosclerotic arterial tissue.The uptake of cholesterol-1,2-3H by arterial tissue was rapid and was similar in both boiled and viable arterial segments. Results suggest a physical chemical mechanism for uptake of free cholesterol. Arterial segments esterified oleic acid-1-14C to phospholipid, triglyceride, and cholesteryl ester. Cholesterol-1,2-3H was also esterified with a significantly increased rate of esterification seen in arterial segments from atherosclerotic aortas. Uptake of free cholesterol was not significantly different in normal and atherosclerotic arterial segments.

The effect of unilateral medial forebrain bundle lesion on 5-hydroxytryptamine in the pigeon brain.

The amount of 5-HT was spectrofluorimetrically determined in the brains of normal pigeons and pigeons that had been operated in the left diencephalon. The highest concentration of 5-HT was encountered in a small medial and anterior part of mesencephalon, where both tryptaminergic nerve cell bodies and preterminals occurred. Considerably lower concentrations were found in the diencephalon after removal of the organon vasculosum, which is very rich in both 5-HT and catecholamines. The lowest concentration was recorded in corpora striata, where 5-HT occurs in the form of mostly sub-light-microscopical nerve terminals. After a transversal section of the medial forebrain bundle it could be concluded, on both histochemical and biochemical grounds, that 5-HT is formed and transported in special neurons with their cell bodies in the mesencephalon and nerve terminals in both diencephalon and corpora striata. The most apparent evidence for this was the clear reduction of 5-HT level in the corpora striata of the operated side and the apparent accumulation of fluorescent material proximal to the lesion. An interesting change was also the increase in 5-HT concentration in mesencephalon, diencephalon and corpora striata of the unoperated half of the brain. The opinion was put forward that such an increase could imply some kind of compensation for the reduced transmitter content in the contralateral hemi-brain.

The natural resistance of pigeons to type 3 pneumococcus.

SummaryA search has been made for immunological reasons to account for the susceptibility of mice and the resistance of pigeons to challenge by Diplococcus pneumoniae type III. Comparative studies have been made of the abihty of mice and pigeons to respond to a pneumococcal vaccine. It has been shown that the pigeon responds with a higher antibody titre to small doses of pneumococcal antigen. A study has been made ofthenatural opsonins present in normal pigeon serum against this organism. Pigeons, in contrast to mice, show an immune‐type clearance after intravenous injection of these organisms and this clearance can be inhibited by the specific capsular polysaccharide, indicating its dependence on specific antibody. It is suggested that the natural resistance of pigeons can be accounted for by the existence of natural antibody and by the rapidly acquired antibody response to the injection of the organisms.

Aortic atherosclerosis in white carneau pigeons: the effect of hypercholesterolemia and certain hypocholesterolemic agents

The effects of hypercholesterolemia secondary to induced hypothyroidism and of hypercholesterolemia produced by cholesterol feeding on spontaneous atherosclerosis of the White Carneau pigeon was investigated. The degree of atherosclerosis in a group of hypothyroid hypercholesterolemic birds was similar to that in euthyroid normocholesterolemic controls. Feeding dietary cholesterol to normal adult pigeons of this species did not aggravate the degree of atherosclerosis unless plasma cholesterol levels greater than 1500 mg/100 ml were produced. Triparanol produced some lowering of plasma cholesterol levels in normal pigeons but had no effect on the cholesterol levels of the hypothyroid birds. Nicotinic acid and cholestyramine had no effect on the plasma cholesterol levels of either normal or hypothyroid hypercholesterolemic pigeons. None of the three drugs studied had any effect on atherosclerosis in either normal or hypothyroid hypercholesterolemic groups of pigeons. Triparanol was found to be toxic to this species. Les effets sur l'athérosclérose de l'hypercholestérolémie secondaire a 1'hypothyroïdie induite et de l'hypercholestérolémie produite par un regime au cholesterol out été étudiés chez le pigeon Carneau blanc. Le degre d'athérosclérose au sein d'un groupe d'oiseaux hypothyroidiens hypercholestérolémiques fut semblable a celui chez les témoins euthyroïdiens ayant une cholestérolémie normale. Un regime au cholesterol tonne a des pigeons adultes normaux n'aggrava pas le degre d'athéro-sclérose, a moins que ne fussent produits des taux de cholesterol plasmatique supérieurs a 1500 mg/ 100 ml. Le triparanol abaissa les taux de cholesterol plasmatique des pigeons normaux, mais resta sans effet sur les taux de cholesterol des oiseaux hypothyroidiens. L'acide nicotinique et la cholestyramine n'avaient pas d'effets sur les taux de cholesterol plasmatique des pigeons normaux ni chez les oiseaux hypothyroidiens hypercholestérolémiques. Aucune des trois drogues étudiées n'influa sur l'athérosclérose chez les pigeons normaux ni chez les oiseaux avec hypothyroldie et hypercholestérolémie. Le triparanol se révéla être toxique envers cette espèce. Die Folgen von Hypercholesterinamie nach hervorgerufenem Hypothyreoidismus, and von Hypercholesterinamie, erzeugt durch Cholesterinfütterung bei spontaner Atherosklerose der weissen Carneau-Taube, wurden untersucht. Innerhalb einer Gruppe von hypothyreoiden hypercholesterinamischen Vögel war der Grad der Atherosklerose ähnlich wie der bei euthyreoiden normocholesterinämischen Kontrollgruppen. Wurden normal ausgewachsene Tauben dieser Spezies mit Cholesterin gefüttert, so verschlimmerte das nicht den Grad der Atherosklerose - es sei denn, dass Plasmacholesteringehalte hervorgerufen wurden die grosser als 1500 mg/100 ml waren. Triparanol bewirkte bei normalen Tauben eine gewisse Senkung der Plasmacholesteringehalte aber hatte keine Wirkung auf die Cholesteringehalte hypothyreoider Vögel Sowohl bei normalen wie bei hypothyreoiden hypercholesterinamischen Tauben hatten Nikotinsäure and Cholestyramin keinen Einfluss auf die Plasmacholesteringehalte. Keines der drei untersuchten Mittel hatte irgend eine Wirkung auf die Atherosklerose der normalen oder der hypothyreoiden hypercholesterinamischen Taubengruppe. Es zeigte sich, dass Triparanol fur these Spezies toxisch ist.

Effect of disuse atrophy on pectoralis muscle and blood in the pigeon

Disuse atrophy in the breast muscle of the pigeon was induced by applying a plaster cast on the wings, which were kept in a dorsally extended position. Lipolytic activity in the breast muscle and blood serum was determined at different intervals from 1 day to 2 months. A higher enzyme activity in the muscle and a corresponding fall in the enzyme activity in blood serum were observed during the 1st week of atrophy. Fat and water contents in the muscle were also estimated. During the first 2 weeks there was an increase in water content of the muscle. A sudden increase in fat content was observed on the 1st day of atrophy. Later the fat content gradually decreased, and by the end of 2 months the fat content was found to be less than that in the normal pigeon. The physiological significance of such changes in lipase activity and fat content is discussed.

Experiments with heterogenous transplantation of chicken rous sarcoma into decerebrate and normal pigeons

Experiments with heterogenous transplantation of chicken rous sarcoma into decerebrate and normal pigeons

DIABETOGENIC ACTION OF PROLACTIN

IT HAS been difficult to establish whether the effects on carbohydrate metabolism of different preparations of prolactin are due to the hori mone itself or to other pituitary hormones which may be present in small amounts in these preparations. Thus, the clearly marked anti-insulin effect of impure pituitary preparations (Young, 1936; Marks, 1936) is reduced so as to be infinitesimal in purified preparations (Young, 1948, b, c). Riddle and his associates, in several papers published between 1937 and 1947, reported that prolactin had hyperglycemic and diabetogenic activity; later they (Riddle et al., 1947) found that prolactin preparations which were free of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) did not modify the blood sugar of the fasting pigeon, and the slight increase in blood sugar observed in animals which were fed seemed to be due to a greater ingestion of food. Hepatic glycogen, however, was found to be increased by prolactin in normal pigeons, and even more so in hypophysectomized animals.

Tentativas de transmissão da lepra ao homem, por meio de Triatomídeos infectados em doentes lepromatosos: (nota prévia)

The A.A. started a new series of experiments upon the transmission of Leprosy to man by means of one of the more widespread hematophagi of the hinterland of Brazil, the Triatomidae. Two species of these insects were found naturally infected with Hansen's bacillus in huts of lepers in the interior of the State of Minas Gerais and one of the writers (S.A.) upon feeding the same insects on lepromatous cases could obtain two strains of acid-fast bacilli cultures smearing Lowenstein medium with the intestinal contains of the same. The first phase of the experiments lasted five months and the results, partially positive, are here describe. More than one hundred Triatomidae (Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus) bred in the Institute Oswaldo Cruz and fed in normal pigeons until convenient growth were put on lepromatous lesions, which they sucked many times, and them after one or more days they were put to be fed on selected regions of the skin of four negativated cases of leprosy. The arguments in favour and against the possibility of obtaining new lesions of leprosy in such burnet out patients were discussed. The A.A. are not authorized to draw any definite conclusions, but the few facts registered are worth of divulgation, in orther that other workers send their suggestions. Three out of the four volunteers showed moderate local reactions between 1 to 4 days after being sucked by the infected insectes. After five months experiments subcutanous lymph were obtained from the points where the insects have bitten. A very few acid-fast bacilli were found in such material. The patients, being kept in separation from infectious cases, will be followed up during months or a year in order to be detected any suspicious experimental lesions of leprosy.

Effects of Prolactin and Cortical Hormones on Body Weight and Food Intake of Adrenalectomized Pigeons

SummaryAdrenalectomized young Carneau pigeons fed 1.75 g of a salt mixture daily showed an average period of survival of 9 days. Such pigeons eat little food and lose weight. Prolactin induced more than normal gains in body weight when adrenal insufficiency was not acute and restored food intake to a level almost equal to that of unoperated birds. Either adrenal cortical extract or desoxycorticosterone acetate maintained life in adrenalectomized pigeons. Daily doses of 2 mg of desoxycorticosterone acetate fully restored the rate of increase of body weight and the daily food consumption to levels characteristic of normal unoperated pigeons. A group of birds given high dosage of both prolactin and adrenal cortical extract showed more rapid gains in body weight and larger food intake than has ever been observed in normal unoperated pigeons of the age used here.

The cytology of the adrenal cortex of normal pigeons and in experimentally induced atrophy and hypertrophy

The cytology of the adrenal cortex of normal pigeons and in experimentally induced atrophy and hypertrophy