Adrenocortical responses of ducks to treadmill exercise

The influence of treadmill exercise on corticosterone secretion has been determined in domestic ducks. In birds unused to such exercise the concentrations of plasma corticosterone were markedly increased (greater than fourfold) after 15 or 30 min of treadmill exercise (1.1 km/h at 3 degrees grade) and the level remained high (between 30 and 40 ng/ml) throughout 90 min of exercise. This increase in corticosterone secretion accompanied a similar increase in colon temperature and was independent of the plasma glucose level. After exercise the corticosterone concentration declined to the pretreatment level within 60 min of recovery. In birds used to the exercise the corticosterone response to a standard (30 min) period of exercise was diminished (by 77.6%) in comparison with untrained birds and was no greater than the response (1.7-fold) in stationary control birds after handling and bleeding. The diminution of the corticosterone response to exercise may be due to the trained birds becoming fitter and better able to perform the work involved.