PLASMA GROWTH-HORMONE LEVELS IN NORMAL AND TESTOSTERONE IMPLANTED GROWING TURKEYS

The growth of normal and testosterone implanted female turkeys was followed between 2 and 16 weeks of age and the concentration of immunoreactive growth hormone (GH) in the peripheral plasma measured. The testosterone treated birds were larger than the controls between 3 and 11 weeks of age. In both groups the plasma GH levels were inversely correlated with the bird's age and body weight and directly correlated with the percentage weekly weight gain Plasma GH concentrations in the testosterone treated birds were higher than in the controls at 4 weeks of age and lower at 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 weeks of age. Significant differences between the groups in percentage weekly weight gain were not consistently associated with corresponding differences in plasma GH level.