Sedimentation Rate of Erythrocytes in the Domesticated Cock

IT IS WELL recognised that the sedimentation rate of erythrocytes is dependent on many factors (Ponder, 1944; Janeway, 1953; Myers et al., 1954; Wintrobe, 1956; Washburn and Myers, 1957). In the domestic fowl it has also been shown that sedimentation rate is highest in adult females, intermediate in capons and lowest in males, and that this was determined partly by total corpuscular volume and cell numbers; cell size had apparently little effect (Sturkie and Textor, 1958Sturkie and Textor, 1960). Furthermore sedimentation rates were increased in birds with hyperlipaemic plasma produced by feeding Nicarbazin (Sturkie and Textor, 1960). Since oestrogen is also known to induce lipaemia in birds (Lorenz et al., 1938; Zondek and Marx, 1939) the red blood cell sedimentation rate was investigated under the influence of this hormone. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adult male Brown Leghorns of the P.R.C. flock were kept in cages with food and water ad libitum. One mg…