Experimental Modification of the Growth of the Bursa of Fabricius

Abstract

THE growth of the bursa of Fabricius in the domestic chicken has recently been characterized by Glick (1956). The bursae of all breeds studied began a period of definite involution during the second to third month after hatching. Several possible factors causing this involution are discussed in this paper. Jolly (1914) reported that rate of bursa involution could be increased in the chicken by fasting and irradiation. It is interesting that Jolly theorized that the sensitivity of the bursa to inanition warranted the supposition that it plays a role in the exchange of nutritives. Bursa involution was delayed, according to Jolly and Pezard (1928), after castration. They caponized 6 chickens at 2 months of age and reported that at 6 months the bursae of the capons were larger than the 4 controls. One control had a larger bursa than the capons. Kirkpatrick and Andrews (1944) were able to increase the …