Effect of Diethylstilbestrol on Utilization of Energy by the Growing Chick

Abstract

Increased fat production in diethylstilbestrol-treated chicks was found to be due primarily to increased energy consumption and to a lesser extent to preferential synthesis of fat at the expense of protein tissue. This was shown in experiments comparing normal and estrogen-treated male chicks with respect to gains in live weight, fat and protein at two planes of nutrition, and the yield of metabolizable and productive (net) energy which they obtained from the diet. It was found that the fattening effect could not be due to increased digestibility, increased net energy yield from absorbed nutrients, or lowered heat production. Under the influence of estrogen, total tissue gain expressed in Calories was increased, and was composed of greater fat gain and lower protein gain. Tissue energy gains were a linear function of metabolizable energy consumption. This relationship predicted equal tissue energy gains under pair-feeding conditions, which was confirmed experimentally.