THE EFFECT OF SOME STRESS FACTORS ON BLOOD LEUCOCYTIC COUNT, GLUCOSE AND CORTICOIDS IN CHICKENS

The effect of some stress factors on blood corticoids, leucoctyic count, and glucose in chickens has been investigated.
1.--Blood corticoids in chickens of 52 and 58 days of age have been determined by using two different methods depending on com petitive protein binding assay (CPB).
2.-Comparison between these two methods CPB method using SH--B corticosterone and the Cortipac CPB assay using Selenium labelled Cortisol, proved that the last method can be satisfactorily used
3.-Injection of ACTH significantly increased the level od cortic oids, eosinophils and pseudoeosinophils. Variations in total leucocy tic and blood glucose level were not significant.
4.-Under heat stress (40°C) significant increase of blood corticoids and significant decrease in the blood glucose, eosinophils , and pseud oesinophils was evident. Death occured after two hours.
5.-Deprivation of food and water caused significant increase in the blood corticoids after 12 hours. Other variations in the blood parameters were not significant.
6.-Vigorous exercise significantly increased blood corticoids after one hour and blood sugar after two hours. Leucocytes showed no significant change.