“…Although specific GH-releasing factors have not been characterized in the avian hypothala¬ mus, synthetic GH-releasing factors increase plasma GH concentrations in chickens , turkeys (Proudman, 1984) and young ducks (Foltzer-Jourdainne, Harvey, Karmann & Mialhe, 1987), and hypothalamic sites regulating GH release have been detected in the ventromedial and arcuate nuclei of the domestic fowl (Rabii, Knapp, De La Guardia et al 1984). Thyrotrophin-releasing hor¬ mone (TRH) also appears to be physiologically important as a GH-releasing factor in birds, increas¬ ing the circulating GH level in young chickens Klandorf, Harvey & Fraser, 1985), ducklings (Pethes, Scanes & Rudas, 1979;Harvey, Foltzer-Jourdainne, Karmann & Mialhe, 1988) and turkey poults (Proudman, 1984). Somato¬ statin (SRIF), in contrast, has been demonstrated in the avian hypothalamus (Calas, Dubois & Assenmacher, 1975;Blahser, 1984;Foltzer, Harvey & Mialhe, 1987) and has inhibitory effects on in-vivo GH secretion in immature birds (Strosser, Harvey, Foltzer & Mialhe, 1984Harvey, Lam & Hall, 1986).…”