A study of the physiology of the sparrow thyroid

Abstract

In previous studies (Miller, '35), it was observed that the injection of crystalline thyroxin alters the sexually dimorphic plumage of the male English sparrow. With the findings of Lillie and Juhn ('32), Greenwood and Blyth ('29), Hill and Parkes ('35), and others, they indicate that the thyroid hormone has a marked influence upon basic processes involved in feather growth and coloration. Therefore it seemed desirable to study the bird thyroid in its relationship to more general physiological processes.The present investigation is concerned chiefly with three aspects of this problem: 1) The seasonal cycle in thyroid activity of the normal sparrow has been followed by observing variations i n both metabolic rate and the histology of the gland throughout the year. 2) The relationship between indirect stimulation by the thyrotropic principle of the anterior pituitary and direct action of thyroxin has been studied by a comparison of their effects upon plumage pattern, thyroid histology, and metabolic rate.3) The problem of the possible production of antithyrotropic hormone or other inhibitors in response to the prolonged administration of thyrotropic hormone has been submitted to experimental tests.

Basal Metabolic Rate Declines During Long-Distance Migratory Flight in Great Knots

“…Seasonal (rather than fasting) variation in BMR is known from a variety of bird species, though changes are usually not as large as in these migrating Great Knots, at least in wild animals (Weathers and Caccamise 1978, Mortensen and Blix 1986, Swanson 1991, Cooper and Swanson 1994. Miller (1939), however, claimed a mass-specific oxygen consumption 43-49% lower in summer than in winter in the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).…”

Latitudinal Trends in the Metabolic Adjustments of the House Sparrow

“…;r-i-.,t..,f temperature, apparent during both day and night, is = 3rC (Kendeigh 1944, Hudson andKimzey 1966). Basal metabolism at the latitude of Champaign, Illinois, USA, varies from around 9 kcal ( = 38 kJ) in the summer to over 14 kcaljbird-day (=59 kJjbirdday) in the winter (Miller 1939).…”

The influence of comb type on growth rate in the domestic fowl1

“…According to Cruickshank, the iodine ~ontent of the thyroids varied directly with seasonal variation in weight. Miller (1939) reported that sparrow thyroids were most active in winter based on histological comparisons and that the increased activity was associated with a higher metabolic rate.…”