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EFFECT OF THIOURACIL ON THE PLUMAGE OF THE BROWN LEGHORN CAPON¹

IT HAS BEEN shown conclusively in recent years that thiourea and certain of its derivatives effect hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the thyroid gland (MacKenzie and MacKenzie, 1943; Astwood, Sullivan, Bissell and Tyslowitz, 1943; Astwood, 1943; Kennedy, 1942; Richter and Clisby, 1942), and that there is a concommitant depression of thyroid activity (MacKenzie and MacKenzie, 1943; Astwood, Sullivan, Bissell and Tyslowitz, 1943).

The greater number of these investigations were carried out in rats but other mammals such as the mouse and the dog gave similar reactions when treated with goitrogenic drugs. In chickens fed sulfaguanidine MacKenzie and MacKenzie (1943) reported no inhibition of the thyroid gland; however Mixner, Reinecke and Turner (1944) found an hypertrophy in chicks fed thiouracil and thiourea.

It is now shown that the administration of thiouracil² to the Brown Leghorn capon causes alterations of structure and of pigmentation in the feathering which are comparable to those initiated by thyroidectomy.

Footnotes

¹ Scientific paper No. A87, Contribution No. 1946, of the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station (Department of Poultry Husbandry).

Received June 29, 1944.

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