Effect of Hypophysectomy of Growing Chicks upon Their Basal Metabolism. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Ablation of the pituitary gland of immature chickens results in a depression of the basal heat production, in males to 80%, in females to 60% of normal. Hypophysectomy results in a voluntary food consumption of one-third to one-half of normal. Restriction of the food intake of normal birds to the level of hypophysectomized birds results in a depression of the BMR of normal birds to about the level of their operated controls. These results suggest that basal heat production may be directly influenced by the level of food intake rather than by hypopituitarism. The possibility of indirect effect of restricted food intake has not been ruled out.