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

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Abstract
The blood-sugar level in the fed chick was about 200 mg. % and decreased about 10 mg. % on fasting. This value confirmed the earlier finding that in birds the normal blood sugar level is twice that of mammals. The muscle (pectoral) glycogen in the fed chick was over 1000 mg. % and declined to 750 to 800 mg. % during a 24-hr. fast. The pectoral muscle contained 3 to 4 times more glycogen than the gastrocnemius muscle. The liver glycogen of the fed birds, though quite variable, averaged about 3.0% and declined to levels below 0.4% during a 24-hr. fast. In the fasted chick small doses of insulin (1-2 U per kg.) caused a definite hypoglycemia and a diminution of the already low level of liver glycogen. Insulin convulsions and eventual death were produced by rather high dosage of the hormone if administered on successive days. The response, however, was irregular and unpredictable. Adrenal cortical extract administered to fasted chicks produced a significant deposition of liver glycogen and raised the blood sugar to supernormal levels. In fed chicks the same elevation of the blood sugar occurred but no alteration in the liver glycogen was observed. Protein was probably the source of the new carbohydrate formed after adm. of adrenal cortical extract to fasted chicks. No effect of saline ant. pituitary extract on the blood sugar of fed chicks could be demonstrated, nor could any "contra-insulin" action be shown in fasted chicks. The hyperglycemic and glycogenolytic properties of epinephrine occurred in the chick but no evidence was adduced to indicate that the chick is any more sensitive than mammals to the action of this hormone.

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