A fat-mobilizing substance in chicken urine

Abstract

A fat-mobilizing substance (FMS) was extracted from the urine of fasting male and female chickens. Injection into chickens caused transient decreases in food intake and transient increases in plasma free fatty acids (FFA). These effects were accompanied by persisting decreases in plasma triglycerides. FMS also caused persistent decreases in plasma cholesterol and lipid phosphorus. Slight elevations of blood glucose occurred, but they were not statistically significant. FMS obtained from the urine of fed chickens by the same technique as that used with fasting chickens varied in its activity; at times it was similar to the FMS obtained from fasting chickens and at other times had little effect on plasma FFA and food intake. FMS elicited smaller increases in plasma FFA in laying hens than it did in males, possibly as a result of higher pre-injection levels in the hens. In contrast to findings in mammals, FMS was obtained from the urine of hypophysectomized chickens. Differences in response to FMS among mice, rats, and chickens are discussed.