The Effect of Bovine Growth Hormone, Desoxycorticosterone Acetate, and Cortisone Acetate on the White Blood Cell Counts of 2-Week-Old Chickens

IN A recent paper by the author, Glick (1960a), bovine growth hormone was reported to stimulate the growth of the adrenals and bursa of Fabricius. Also, bovine growth hormone appeared to counteract the depressive influence of cortisone acetate on the size of the adrenals and bursa of Fabricius. One of the conclusions in this paper was that the bovine growth hormone acted directly on the adrenal glands without causing an increased release of glucocorticoids. The purpose of this experiment was to collect additional data concerning the relationship of bovine growth hormone injections and hormonal release by the adrenal gland in the chicken. At hatching, fifty New Hampshire broiler-type chicks were equally divided into ten groups and placed in battery brooders. There were 3 males and 2 females in each group. Bovine growth hormone (.4 ml.), desoxycorticosterone acetate (.2 ml.), cortisone acetate (.05 ml.), all combinations of the three hormones…