Sensitivity to testosterone varies with strain, sex, and site of action in chickens

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(95)02260-0

Physiology & Behavior

Volume 59, Issue 6, June 1996, Pages 1085-1091

https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(95)02260-0 Get rights and content

Abstract

Day-old chicks (cockerels and pullets) of two strains of chicken (a commercial breed and strain of feral fowl) were treated intramuscularly with 25 mg/0.1 ml of testosterone oenanthate on day 1 posthatching. Controls received 0.1 ml of the vehicle. Attack and copulatory behavior were scored from days 7 to 14 using standard hand-thrust tests, which rank the responses from 1 to 10. The sizes of the comb and testes were also measured. All measures showed strain and sex differences. Copulation and attack scores were highest in males of the feral strain. Even untreated males of the feral strain had high scores, and these were further elevated by the testosterone treatment. In fact, the attack scores of feral males were marginally higher than those of the males of the commercial strain treated with testosterone. Testosterone treatment of the feral females also elevated attack and copulation to a much greater extent than in the commercial strain. Opposite effects occurred for the development of the comb. Comb volume, absolute and adjusted for body weight, was much greater in treated chicks of the commercial strain than in those of the feral strain. These results indicate that chicks of the feral strain may have more central and fewer peripheral receptors for testosterone or that their receptors for testosterone are more sensitive than those of the commercial strain. Alternatively, there may be strain, as well as sex, differences in the metabolism of testosterone.

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Cited by (20)

Yolk androstenedione in domestic chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus): Uptake and sex-dependent alteration of growth and behavior
2013, General and Comparative Endocrinology
Citation Excerpt :
Studies experimentally altering exposure to yolk estradiol in birds are scarce, but in one study that assessed its effects in males, yolk estradiol altered digit ratio but not tarsus length in male pheasants (Saino et al., 2006b). Chicken comb size is a sexually–selected, androgen dependent trait (Mukhutar and Kahn, 2012), and T manipulation can increase its growth in males even in the first week post-hatch (Astiningsih and Rogers, 2003), while experimentally elevated estrogen decreases comb size in male chickens (Stanton et al., 2001). In contrast, while T also promotes comb growth in females, comb size is positively correlated with circulating estrogen in developing females in some cases (Joseph et al., 2003), though this relationship is not robust across lineages and experiments (Eitan et al., 1998).
In birds, causes and consequences of variation in maternally-derived steroids in egg yolk have been the subject of intense experimentation. Many studies have quantified or manipulated testosterone (“T”) and one of its immediate precursors, androstenedione (“A4”) – often lumping the two steroids as “androgens” and treating them as functionally equivalent. However, yolk A4 is deposited in substantially higher concentrations than T, binds only weakly to the androgen receptor, and is readily converted into either T or estrone by steroidogenic enzymes present during embryonic development. Thus it may not be appropriate to assume that A4 has the same effect as T. In addition, A4’s metabolic fate is likely to differ between females and males. The goals of this study were to examine the sex-specific uptake and metabolism of yolk A4 and consequences of elevated levels of yolk A4 on development and behavior of domestic chicks. Eggs were injected with 2μ Ci of tritiated androstenedione; radioactivity was detected in all tissues of day 7 and day 16 embryos and found in both aqueous and organics phases of day 7 yolk, with no difference between sexes. A second set of eggs was injected with 125 ng of A4. A4 increased growth of morphological traits (tarsus, beak) in females, but not males. A4 males had smaller combs than controls; there was no treatment effect in females. A4 reduced tonic immobility behavior in both sexes. The results of this study illustrate the importance of distinguishing both between androgens and between sexes when investigating avian endocrine maternal effects.
Effects of caponization and different forms of exogenous androgen implantation on immunity in male chicks
2010, Poultry Science
Citation Excerpt :
The secondary sex characteristics of male chickens diminished along with decreasing TES after caponization. The implantation of exogenous androgen rejuvenates the comb growth in capons (Fennell and Scanes, 1992a; Astiningsih and Rogers, 1996). Fennell and Scanes (1992a) using 2-wk-old capons to compare 3 kinds of exogenous androgen implantations to 12 wk of age was shown to promote comb and wattle growth and the order was 19-NorT, 5α-DHT, and TES.
This study determined the caponization effects on the immune responses in male chicks. Different forms of exogenous androgen implantation on male chick immunity were compared. Healthy, uniform male Single Comb White Leghorn chicks were caponized at 3 wk of age. Birds were housed in individual cages (35 × 30 × 40 cm, length × width × height). Each of 27 sham-operated (sham) and caponized (capon) male chickens were used for trial 1. Trial 2 used 60 capons divided into 4 treatments with implants of either 1 mm i.d. × 3 mm o.d. 58 mg of cholesterol, testosterone (TES), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT), or 19-nortestosterone (19-NorT). The exogenous androgen was implanted immediately after caponization and resupplied every 4 wk for an entire 13-wk feeding trial. The results from trial 1 showed that the relative bursa weight increased compared with the sham treatment (P < 0.05). The 2 wk post-Newcastle disease virus titer and the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) of 48 h post-phytohemagglutinin phosphate (PHA-P) injection were increased compared with the sham treatment (P < 0.05). In trial 2, implanted 5α-DHT and 19-NorT could decrease the relative bursa weight in capons (P < 0.05). The 2 wk post-Newcastle disease virus titer in the 5α-DHT group was higher than that in the cholesterol group (P < 0.05). The 19-NorT group had the highest (P < 0.05) PHA-P response. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subset population analysis revealed that the percentage of CD4 T cells in the TES group was lower (P < 0.05) compared with that of the 5α-DHT group. Differently, the percentage of CD8 T cells in the TES and 19-NorT groups was higher (P < 0.05) than that in the 5α-DHT group. Male chicks that were caponized had increased bursa weight and PHA-P response, whereas different forms of exogenous androgen implantation reverted the phenomena in an order of potency of 5α-DHT and 19-NorT > TES, and the PHA-P response was TES > 5α-DHT >19-NorT.
Effect of caponization and exogenous androgens implantation on blood lipid and lipoprotein profile in male chickens
2010, Poultry Science
This study investigated effects of caponization and different forms of androgen implantation on blood lipid and lipoprotein profile of capons to understand the role of different androgens. Male chickens were caponized at 12 wk of age and selected at 16 wk of age for a 10-wk feeding period. Sixteen intact caponized (capon) male chickens and 16 female chickens were assigned for trial 1, and 16 sham-operated (sham) male chickens and 64 capons were selected for trial 2, in which capons were randomly divided into cholesterol (CHOL), testosterone (TES), 5α-dihydrotestosterone, or 19-nortestosterone (19-NorT) implantation at 16, 20, and 24 wk of age. Trial 1 showed that caponization decreased TES concentration (P < 0.05) in male chickens while showing no difference with females (P > 0.05). Caponization increased lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and relative abdominal fat weight (P < 0.05) to a level compatible with females (P > 0.05). Caponization also increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) content and LDL-protein percentage (P < 0.05) but decreased high-density lipoprotein-free CHOL percentage (P < 0.05) compared with intact males. In trial 2, androgen implantation showed lower relative abdominal fat weight (P < 0.05) than CHOL. Only 19-NorT reached a level compatible with the sham (P > 0.05). Cholesterol implantation increased LPL activity compared with the sham (P < 0.05), and 19-NorT and 5α-dihydrotestosterone showed the lowest LPL activity (P < 0.05). Different androgen implantations increased LDL and very low density lipoprotein + LDL ratios and decreased high-density lipoprotein ratio (P < 0.05) to the compatible level with the sham (P > 0.05). Different levels of androgen implantation also demonstrated changes in LDL triacylglyceride and protein percentage and reached a level compatible with the sham (P > 0.05). Caponization decreased blood TES concentration in male chickens, increased LPL activity, and changed the lipoprotein composition, leading to an increase in abdominal fat weight. Results of different androgen implantations in capons demonstrated no difference in lipoprotein profile between androgens, but 19-NorT performed most effectively in abdominal fat accumulation recovery.
Effect of caponization and exogenous androgen implantation on muscle characteristics of male chickens
2010, Poultry Science
Citation Excerpt :
The result of this trial agreed with that of Chen et al. (2005) that implantation with low (5.9 ± 0.2 mg), medium (9.8 ± 0.2 mg), and high (16.7 ± 0.2 mg) doses of TES in 16-wk-old capons did not suppress growth. Capons implanted with exogenous androgen could increase comb weight (Fennell and Scanes, 1992a; Astiningsih and Rogers, 1996). This trial agreed that different exogenous androgen implantations increased the comb length, height, and weight compared with CHOL implantation (P < 0.05).
This study examined the effects of caponization and different exogenous androgen implantations on the growth performance and muscle characteristics of caponized male chickens. Male Single Comb White Leghorn chickens were caponized at 12 wk of age and selected at 16 wk of age for a 10-wk feeding period. Sixteen intact males and caponized (capon) chickens each were assigned for trial 1. Sixteen sham-operated male chickens (sham) and 64 capons were selected for trial 2, in which capons were randomly divided into cholesterol (CHOL), testosterone (TES), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT), or 19-nortestosterone (19-NorT) implantation at 16, 20, and 24 wk of age, with feeding to 26 wk of age. The result from trial 1 showed that caponization improved BW gain and feed conversion rate (P < 0.05) and decreased the comb length, height, and weight (P < 0.05). Breast muscle weight and gastrointestinal tract weight were higher in capons compared with intact males (P < 0.05). In trial 2, CHOL implantation decreased relative thigh muscle weight compared with the sham (P < 0.05), and only 19-NorT implantation increased relative thigh muscle weight to the compatible level with the sham (P > 0.05). 19-Nortestosterone and 5α-DHT implantations showed lower crude fat in the pectoral major muscle than CHOL (P < 0.05) and reached a compatible level with the sham (P > 0.05). All androgen implantation groups showed higher myofibrillar ATPase activity than CHOL (P < 0.05), and 19-NorT and 5α-DHT had the highest level (P < 0.05). Only 19-NorT implantation demonstrated higher shear value than CHOL (P < 0.05) to the compatible level with the sham (P > 0.05). Androgen implantation increased emulsifying capacity compared with CHOL (P < 0.05) and reached a compatible level with the sham (P > 0.05). Caponization decreased the blood TES concentration in male chickens, leading to changes in growth performance and muscle characteristics. After different androgen implantations in capons, 19-NorT showed the most effective results in increasing muscle quality and quantity, followed by the 5α-DHT and TES.
Effects of caponization and different exogenous androgen on the bone characteristics of male chickens
2006, Poultry Science
Citation Excerpt :
They concluded that medium-dose TES implantation showed the best improvement in bone strength and reached the same level as sham-operated (sham) male chickens in tibia weight, length, breaking strength, and bending moment. Testosterone and its analogues [e.g., 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) and 19-nortestosterone (19-NorT)] showed different bioactivity and effects on chicken growth (Fennell and Scanes, 1992; Astiningsih and Rogers, 1996; Fennell et al., 1996). However, information on the consistency of various TES source effects on bone is still inconclusive.
The effects of caponization and androgen implantation on the bone characteristics of male chickens were evaluated. Healthy Single Comb White Leghorn cockerels were caponized or sham operated (sham) at 12 wk old. Sixteen birds from each group were selected for a 14-wk experiment in trial 1. Sixteen birds from the sham group and 64 from the caponized group (randomly allocated into 4 treatments) were implanted with 10.4 ± 0.4 mg (1.62-mm i.d., 3.6-mm o.d.) of cholesterol, testosterone (TES), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT), or 19-nortestosterone (19-NorT) and were assigned to trial 2 for a 14-wk experiment. The results from trial 1 showed that caponization increased BW (P < 0.05) and decreased tibia stress, ash content, and P content with higher blood P concentration (P < 0.05) as compared with the sham group. In trial 2, the cholesterol implantation group showed the lowest tibia breaking strength, bending moment, stress, and ash content (P < 0.05). The 19-NorT implantation group showed decreased (P < 0.05) blood Ca and P concentration but increased tibia ash and P content, reaching the same level as the sham group (P > 0.05). The adverse effects of caponization on bone characteristics could be improved using androgen implantation. Among the implantation groups, the 19-NorT implantation group showed the best improvement in tibia breaking strength and bending moment, followed by the TES and 5α-DHT groups. The TES group showed the best improvement in tibia stress, followed by the 19-NorT and 5α-DHT groups.
Effects of caponization and testosterone implantation on immunity in male chickens
2009, Poultry Science
This study examined the effects of caponization using different doses of testosterone (TES) on sexuality, hematology, and immune responses in male chickens. Healthy male chickens were caponized at 12 wk of age and selected at 16 wk of age for a 10-wk experiment. Fifteen intact male and 15 caponized male chickens were assigned to trial 1. In trial 2, ten sham-operated male chickens (sham) and 40 capons (randomly divided into 4 treatments) were implanted with cholesterol (CHOL, 9.24 ± 0.36 mg), low TES (5.88 ± 0.23 mg), medium TES (9.81 ± 0.17 mg), or high TES (16.7 ± 0.24 mg) administered at 16, 20, and 24 wk of age. Results from trial 1 showed caponization decreased the comb length, height and weight, and hematocrit (P < 0.05) and increased the hemagglutination inhibition (HI; 1 wk postchallenge) and hemagglutination titer after Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and SRBC injections (P < 0.05). In trial 2, the medium TES increased the comb length and height as compared with the CHOL group. Only the high TES increased the comb weight (P < 0.05). The HI titer (1 wk postchallenge) in the CHOL group was higher than the sham (P < 0.05). The medium TES decreased the HI titer (P < 0.05) to the level of the sham (P > 0.05). The phytohemagglutinin response was higher in the high TES group 24 h postinjection (P < 0.05) and in the medium TES 48 h postinjection (P < 0.05) as compared with the CHOL group. High dose TES implantation decreased the white blood cell counts as compared with the CHOL and sham groups (P < 0.05). It appears that caponization decreased the blood androgen concentration and enhanced the humoral (anti-NDV and anti-SRBC) immune response. Testosterone implantation up to a threshold concentration could inhibit the humoral (anti-NDV) immune response and increase the cell-mediated (phytohemagglutinin) immune response.

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¹: Present address: Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Udayana University, Jln. Sudirman, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.

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Physiology & Behavior

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References (32)

Interaction of estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone in the modulation of hormone-dependent aggression in the female rat

Physiol. Behav.

Precocious adult behaviour in the young chick

Anim. Behav.

Effect of testosterone on the behaviour of the domestic chick. 11. Effects present in both sexes

Anim. Behav.

Sexual differences in the Japanese quail: Behavior, morphology, and intracellar metabolism of testosterone

Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.

Sex differences in estrogen and androgen receptors in hamster brain

Life Sci.

Effects of in vivo corticosterone treatment on the in vitro metabolism of testosterone in the comb and brain of the young male chicken

Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.

Androgen metabolism in the brain. Behavioural correlation. Progress in brain research

Social dominance in chickens modified by genetic selection-Physiological mechanisms

Anim. Behav.

Production and secretion of sex steroid hormones by the testes, the ovary and the adrenal glands of embryonic and young chickens (Callus domesticus)

J. Endocrinol.

Sex- and age-related differences in the activity of testosterone-metabolizing enzymes in microdissected nuclei of the zebra finch brain

Brain Res.

The agonistic and courtship behaviour of the Brown Leghorn cock

Anim. Behav.

Effects of steroidal hormones on sexual behaviour, attack and search behaviour in isolated male chicks

Horm. Behav.

Sex steroid and the differentiation and activated of avian reproductive behaviour

Sexual differentiation in birds

Trends Neurosci.

Testosterone metabolism and sexual differentiation in quail

Role of testosterone metabolism in the activation of sexual behavior in birds

Cited by (20)

Yolk androstenedione in domestic chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus): Uptake and sex-dependent alteration of growth and behavior

Effects of caponization and different forms of exogenous androgen implantation on immunity in male chicks

Effect of caponization and exogenous androgens implantation on blood lipid and lipoprotein profile in male chickens

Effect of caponization and exogenous androgen implantation on muscle characteristics of male chickens

Effects of caponization and different exogenous androgen on the bone characteristics of male chickens

Effects of caponization and testosterone implantation on immunity in male chickens

ArticleSensitivity to testosterone varies with strain, sex, and site of action in chickens

Abstract

Physiol. Behav.

Anim. Behav.

Anim. Behav.

Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.

Life Sci.

Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.

Anim. Behav.

J. Endocrinol.

Brain Res.

Anim. Behav.

Horm. Behav.

Sex steroid and the differentiation and activated of avian reproductive behaviour

Sexual differentiation in birds

Trends Neurosci.

Testosterone metabolism and sexual differentiation in quail

Role of testosterone metabolism in the activation of sexual behavior in birds

Article
Sensitivity to testosterone varies with strain, sex, and site of action in chickens