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Effects of Hormones Supplied in the Diet on Chick Growth and Bone Mineralization¹

Department of Poultry Husbandry, University of California, Davis, California

Studies were conducted on the effects of hormones, supplied in a purified diet moderately deficient in calcium, on growth and bone mineralization of chicks. Hydrocortisone at all levels, fed to chicks, was found in general to increase the percentage of bone mineral, calcium and phosphorus. Growth at the higher hormone levels, however, was markedly retarded. Cortisone was much less effective than hydrocortisone, and gonadal hormones in the amounts used failed to influence bone mineralization. Even when growth at the lower levels of hydrocortisone was approximately normal and bone tissue per unit body weight was unchanged, a slight increase in percentage bone mineral occurred. The percentage mineral was also increased in chicks retarded in growth by hydrocortisone in comparison with normal younger chicks of approximately the same size, but bone tissue per unit weight was decreased. The chicks receiving hydrocortisone thus had smaller but better mineralized bones. The favorable effect of hydrocortisone on the mineralization of developing bone was finally demonstrated by showing that chicks supplied the hormone had a greater percentage of bone mineral, calcium and phosphorus than chicks of the same weight and age retarded by low calorie intake. The effect of hydrocortisone on the mineralization of bone was observed only when the diet was deficient in calcium. Under these conditions a low level of the hormone appeared to compensate for the calcium deficiency.

Manuscript received 19 February 1968.