Salt Gland Activity Research Articles

The significance of environmental factors in the hormone mediated changes of nasal (salt) gland activity in birds

The relative importance of environmental pressures on the regulatory demands of the extrarenal (salt gland) excretory route to maintain homeostasis in birds is now becoming known through the experimental approach in which individual natural stresses have been examined in their effect on the hormonal status of the bird. Attempts have been made to interpret these changes in terms of salt gland activity, and emerging from the approach is the view that hormones are involved at possibly three levels within the body viz. directly on the gland at the cellular level, systemically via hormonally induced changes which secondarily affect salt gland activity and finally as a result of hormonal changes which have their basis in behavioral adjustments. The present state of our knowledge is discussed with respect to corticosteroids, thyroxine, ACTH, prolactin and AVT in relation to hypersalinity, heat, cold and water deprivation.