J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J. Anim Sci. 1989. 67:1740-1743.
© 1989 American Society of Animal Science
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sillence, M. N.
Right arrow Articles by Etherton, T. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sillence, M. N.
Right arrow Articles by Etherton, T. D.

Chronic Effects of Recombinant Porcine Growth Hormone on Adrenal Weight and Activity in Pigs1

M. N. Sillence2 and T. D. Etherton3

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine serum Cortisol concentrations and adrenal Cortisol output in pigs treated chronically with recombinant pGH (rpGH) at a maximally effective anabolic dose. Recombinant pGH (140 µg/kg body weight) was administered daily to eight barrows for 77 d. At slaughter, adrenal glands were removed, weighed and sliced; slices of fresh adrenal tissue were incubated for 1 h in the presence or absence of ACTH. Recombinant pGH increased adrenal weight by 39%. This change was accompanied by an inversely proportional reduction of in vitro Cortisol output per gram of tissue, with the net result that total Cortisol output per adrenal per kilogram of BW was unaltered, as was Cortisol output in the presence of ACTH. Serum Cortisol concentrations were measured in 10 barrows fitted with femoral artery catheters and treated daily with 0 or 140 µg rpGH/kg BW for 8 d. Basal and ACTH-stimulated Cortisol concentrations were not altered by rpGH treatment. These results do not support our earlier speculation that a pGH-dependent increase in adrenal weight is associated with a chronic increase in adrenal activity, but rather demonstrate that corticosteroid output is tightly regulated and remains constant despite a marked increase in the size of the adrenal glands.

Footnotes

1 Authorized for publication no. 7929 in the Journal Series of the Pennsylvania Agric. Exp. Sta. Supported in part by USDA, specific Cooperative Agreement 58-3244-7-30.

2 Present address: The Tropical Cattle Res. Ctr., CSKO, P.O. Box 5545, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Aust.

3 Dept. of Dairy and Anim. Sci., The Pennsylvania State Univ. Address reprint requests to T. D. Elherton.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1989 by the American Society of Animal Science.