The endocrine regulation of chicken growth

Abstract

The somatotropic axis plays a key role in proliferation and differentiation of avian organs during both pre- and posthatching periods. This review discusses the complexity of regulation of the endocrine system for chicken development and growth by growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and IGF binding protein (IGFBP). In addition, the thyrotropic axis, including thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and thyroid hormones (T4 and T3), is also involved in the GH-secreting pattern. In mammals, IGFI and -II are always sequestered in a 150 kDa non-covalent ternary complex. This complex consists of one molecule each of IGF-I or IGF-II, IGFBP-3 or IGFBP-5 and an acid labile subunit (ALS). Chick ALS is identified in different strains for the first time, and further investigation of the expression of ALS on developmental stage and ALS effect on IGF bioavailability may be addressed in the future.