Effect of Peptides Lys-Glu-Asp-Gly and Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly on the Morphology of the Thymus in Hypophysectomized Young and Old Birds

Investigations were carried out on chicks of different age. It was found that the most pronounced changes in the morphology of the thymus occurred after neonatal hypophysectomy. These changes are least pronounced in old chicks. Peptides Lys-Glu-Asp-Gly and Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly synthesized on the basis of amino acid composition of peptide complexes of the anterior and posterior pituitary lobes administered to hypophysectomized birds regardless of age promoted recovery of the morphological structures of the thymus. The anterior pituitary peptide (Lys-Glu-Asp-Gly) had more pronounced effect on the recovery of thymic structure than posterior pituitary peptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly).