HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gray, D. A. Articles by Maloney, S. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gray, D. A. Articles by Maloney, S. K.

Antidiuretic hormone and angiotensin II plasma concentrations in febrile Pekin ducks

David A. Gray and Shane K. Maloney

1. The objective of this study was to determine the changes in plasma concentrations of the hormones arginine vasotocin (AVT) and angiotensin II (AII) associated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever in Pekin ducks.

2. LPS, intravenously administered into conscious birds at doses of 1, 10 and 100 µg kg^-1, caused dose-dependent and monophasic increases in body temperature, with fever index values of 3·5, 7·0 and 10·6, respectively.

3. Plasma AVT concentrations also increased with the progression of the fever, with the largest elevation (from 8·4 ± 1·6 to 25·2 ± 3·2 pg ml^-1; means ± s.e.m., n = 7) being caused by the highest dose of LPS.

4. Plasma AII concentrations did not significantly change from basal values (mean of 45·5 ± 6·3 pg ml^-1 for all groups) during the acute phase of the fever response.

5. The osmotic status of the birds, as indicated by plasma osmolality and electrolyte values, did not significantly change in any of the experimental animals.

6. The elevation of AVT in avian fever leads to speculation about a possible antipyretic action of this hormone, which would have particular relevance to understanding the evolution of fever.