THE INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN HORMONES ON THE CARBOHYDRATE LEVELS OF THE CHICK

Abstract

A FEW SCATTERED OBSERVATIONS are recorded in the literature indicating that the endocrine regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in birds is quite different from that in mammals. Since a research program on the endocrine control of carbohydrate metabolism in mammals was being pursued in this laboratory, it seemed desirable to investigate some of these alleged differences in birds with a view to elucidating more fully the underlying regulatory mechanisms in either class of animals. An equally compelling reason for undertaking such an investigation at this time is the rapidly increasing usefulness of the chick (Gallus domesticus) in the biological laboratory. Quite apart from its economic importance, the chick is being widely employed for vitamin, hormone and virus research. Nevertheless, in spite of this widespread and growing use, only a relatively meager amount of information exists regarding avian carbohydrate metabolism. A brief review of this information is presented here.