Physiological control of growth hormone secretion by thyrotrophin-releasing hormone in the domestic fowl.

Immature cockerels (4- to 5-weeks old) were passively immunized, with antiserum raised in sheep, against thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH). The administration of TRH antiserum (anti-TRH) at doses of 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 ml/kg lowered, within 1 h, the basal concentration of plasma GH for at least 24 h. The administration of normal sheep serum had no significant effect on the GH concentration in control birds. Although the GH response to TRH (1.0 or 10.0 micrograms/kg) was not impaired in birds treated 1 h previously with anti-TRH, prior incubation (at 39 degrees C for 1 h) of TRH (20 micrograms/ml) with an equal volume of anti-TRH completely suppressed the stimulatory effect of TRH (10 micrograms/kg) on GH secretion in vivo. These results suggest that TRH is physiologically involved in the hypothalamic control of GH secretion in the domestic fowl.