Model of physiological stress in chickens 2. Dosimetry of adrenocorticotropin

Continuous adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) delivery by mini-osmotic pumps is a reliable method to induce stress in broilers. The present study was conducted to determine the minimum effective dose of ACTH that will evoke physiological stress. Chicks, which had been reared under floor-pen conditions until 5 wk of age received mini-osmotic pumps by surgical implantation. The mini-osmotic pumps delivered 2, 4, 8, or 16 IU of porcine ACTH/kg BW/d for 7 consecutive d. Controls (CON) were untreated chicks. Continuous infusion of ACTH caused dose-related stress responses. Chicks that received 8 or 16 IU showed the greatest responses, whereas those that received 2 or 4 IU were intermediate to the birds dosed with high ACTH and the CON birds. Responses included decreased BW; decreased relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen; and increased relative liver weight. Concomitantly, increased liver lipid and decreased liver moisture were recorded. Plasma concentrations of corticosterone (CS), glucose (GLU), total protein (TP), cholesterol (CHOL), and triglycerides (TRI) and the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes were increased during ACTH infusion. ACTH infusion at 8 IU/kg BW/d for 7 d was determined to be the minimum effective dose that caused physiological stress in broilers.