Bursectomy and its influence on circulating corticosterone, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine in immature male chickens.

This investigation was carried out to determine the effect of bursectomy on circulating corticosterone, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) in immature male chickens. One-day-old Single Comb White Leghorn male chicks were surgically bursectomized ( BSX ). Shamoperated chicks were used as control. Blood samples were collected from different BSX and sham birds at 2, 3, and 4 weeks of age. Serum concentrations of corticosterone, T3 and T4 were measured using radioimmunoassays. Serum concentrations of corticosterone and T3 were higher in BSX than sham-operated birds at all ages. Concentrations of T4, however, were similar in both groups. It was concluded that the bursa, directly or indirectly, affected hormone secretion from the thyroid and adrenal glands.