The transport of plasma thyroxine in White storks (Ciconia ciconia) and the association of high levels of plasma transthyretin (thyroxine-binding prealbumin) with moult

Abstract

Antisera raised against domestic fowl transthyretin (thyroxine-binding prealbumin) and quail albumin were used to identify thyroxine-binding proteins in the plasma of White storks (Ciconia ciconia) and to measure seasonal changes in these proteins. Three plasma proteins were shown to bind thyroxine (T4). They were albumin, transthyretin and a protein with an electrophoretic mobility on non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis intermediate between albumin and transthyretin. There was no thyroxine-binding globulin. The plasma concentrations of transthyretin and albumin were measured in male and female storks exposed to the photoperiodic and climatic conditions experienced during an annual cycle at 46 degrees N, 11 degrees E. The storks were in four age groups, fledglings and 1-, 2- and 3-year-old birds. A strong correlation (P less than 0.001) was found between daylength and the concentration of transthyretin during the period from February to August in the 1-, 2- and 3-year-old male and female storks, with peak values of 150-210 mg/l in May, June and July coinciding with the annual moult. Between September and January the concentration of plasma transthyretin was low, ranging between 80 and 100 mg/l. The concentration of plasma albumin was not correlated with seasonal changes in daylength and did not change during moult. It is suggested that seasonally high concentrations of plasma transthyretin may have a physiological role in moult.

Influence of Molt on Plasma Protein Electrophoretic Patterns in Bar-Headed Geese (Anser Indicus)

“…A short period of exposure, of approximately 30 min, is sufficient to trigger a nearly full thyroid hormone effect on plasma protein synthesis (Hertzberg et al, 1981). Results of another study demonstrated the existence of an association between increase in concentration of plasma transthyretin and molting in birds (Cookson et al, 1988). This carrier protein, also called thyroxine-binding preal-bumin, may be responsible for increase in prealbumin fraction during remige molt observed in our study.…”