The role of the somatotrophic axis in the metabolism of the chicken

As it is for mammalian species, growth hormone (GH) is indispensable for normal growth and development of avian species. In contrast to mammals, exogenous GH administration has little, if any, potential for improving the growth rate and feed efficiency of rapidly growing broilers; it is more likely to do so in older birds. This is at least partly because of age-related changes in tissue GH-binding activity and GH-receptor mRNA expression. The effects of GH on lipid deposition depends on the age of the bird and pattern of GH administration. Pulsatile, but not continuous, GH administration to older broilers seems to reduce fat deposition. As in rats, the bioactivity of GH might also depend on the pulse-induced cyclicity in GH receptors and GH-binding proteins. In chickens, GH is also a very potent lipolytic hormone, but seems to have no diabetogenic effect, which is reported in mammalian species. Both insulin-like growth factors have apparently no growth-promoting effects in normal growing broilers, but seem to have opposite effects on fat deposition. In contrast to GH, both insulin-like growth factors have a marked hypoglycemic effect. Whether all these effects are direct effects, or are mediated by secondary mechanisms, awaits further investigations. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.