The relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1, growth hormone, thyroid hormones and insulin in chickens selected for growth

The concentrations of circulating insulin-like growth factor I, growth hormone, insulin and thyroid hormones were measured in broilers selected for an increase in growth, broilers in which selection pressure was relaxed and in White Leghorns. Growth hormone levels increased in all lines between 3 and 4 weeks of age followed by a decline to adult levels. The lines with the slowest rate of growth had the highest growth hormone concentrations. Insulin-like growth factor I concentrations increased significantly in all three lines of birds during the 10 weeks of study and was significantly correlated with the increase in body weight. There were no consistent differences in plasma IGF-1 levels between the lines. Thyroxine levels increased consistently throughout the study but the levels of triiodothyronine decreased between 5 and 6 weeks of age in all lines. There were no consistent changes in plasma insulin levels. The highest rate of growth in these animals is accompanied by an increase in growth hormone concentration followed by an increase in plasma IGF-1. However, despite differences in plasma growth hormone, plasma concentrations of IGF-1 are not different between lines and are not related to between line differences in growth rate.