Growth Hormone and Cortisol Levels in the Annual Cycle of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

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Abstract
The annual cycles of growth hormone and cortisol levels in white-tailed deer were followed. No significant difference was found in the average cortisol levels in a large group of animals during the year. In contrast to cortisol, growth hormone (GH) investigated by heterologous bovine GH radioimmunoassay, seems to have a distinct annual rhythm. High levels of GH in plasma were found between casting and the first week of antler growth with the peak of 23.1 ng/ml (estimated in bovine GH equivalents) in the middle of April, From the middle of June until the middle of November a plateau averaging 3 ng/ml was found.The relationships between very rapid growth of a bone tissue and the influence of GH and sex hormones are discussed.

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