ONTOGENY AND SECRETORY PATTERNS OF PLASMA INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-I CONCENTRATIONS IN MEAT-TYPE CHICKENS

The ontogeny and secretory pattern of plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) in relation to GH secretion were studied in meat-type (broiler) poultry during prepubertal and post-pubertal growth. Male and female broiler chickens of two commercial strains (strains A and B) were reared from 1 to 198 days of age. From 1 to 49 days of age birds were reared in raised-wire cages and thereafter in deep-litter pens, with food available ad libitum. Blood samples were taken at regular intervals during growth, and at 29 and 43 days of age representative birds were cannulated and serial blood samples taken at 10-min intervals for 5 to 7 h. Plasma concentrations of GH and IGF-I were measured by radioimmunoassay. Birds of strain A were heavier (P < 0.05) than those of strain B from 12 to 35 days of age. In general, male birds were heavier (P < 0.01) than females from 12 to 35 days of age. Plasma GH concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) from 12 to 35 days of age, while plasma IGF-I concentrations were lower (P < 0.05) from 6 to 21 days of age in male compared with female birds. Plasma IGF-I concentration increased with age, reaching a plateau at 28 days of age, while plasma GH concentration declined over the same period. Plasma IGF-I concentrations declined in a linear manner from 49 to 198 days of age, and there was no evidence of a pubertal increase. There were no differences between strains in the plasma concentrations of GH or IGF-I. Serial blood sampling at 29 and 43 days of age showed that there was no relationship between GH and IGF-I, despite a highly pulsatile GH secretory pattern which existed at 29 days of age. These results show that as the plasma concentration of GH declines that of IGF-I increases. Plasma concentration of both GH and IGF-I in broiler chickens was sexually dimorphic, especially during the early growth phase to about 35 days of age.