Removal of olfactory bulbs in chickens: consequent changes in food intake and thyroid activity

Surgical removal of the olfactory bulbs (O.B) in the chicken caused a marked increase in food intake, which was not accompanied by development of obestiy. Oxygen consumption of the O.B. removed birds was significantly higher than that of the controls. Alcianophylic-thyrotropic cell population of the adenohypophysis and the percentage of active follicles in the thyroid gland were higher for the O.B. removed birds than for those of the controls. Feed supplementation of 0.1% propylthiouracil to the O.B removed birds abolished the previously exhibited hyperphagia and caused a significant decline in oxygen consumption. The possibility that the O.B removal caused a primary increase in thyrotropic axis activity follwoed by a secondary compensatory hyperphagia, is discussed.