Model of physiological stress in chickens 1. Response parameters.

A model was developed to study stress in chickens. Continuous administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone was employed (ACTH) using physiological mini-osmotic pumps. A validation of controls for this procedure showed that nonhandled (NHCON), sham surgical procedure for pump implantation (SMCON) and surgical implantation of a pump delivering saline (SALCON) were all acceptable controls. Continuous delivery of ACTH at 8 IU/kg BW/d for 7 d caused increases in plasma corticosterone (CS), glucose (GLU), cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TRI), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total protein (TP), and the heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio. Body weight, as well as relative weights of the major immunobiological organs (i.e., spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius) were decreased. Finally, liver was increased due to lipid and moisture accumulation. This model is the first to show in a single experiment all the major adaptive stress responses of chickens.