FSH and LH cells in the laying hens and cocks, fed with a diet containing red hot pepper

Abstract

In this study, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secreting cells in the pituitary gland of laying hens and cocks, which were fed with a diet containing red hot pepper at low doses in a five months' development period after hatching, were studied immunohistochemically. The number of FSH-ir positive cells was higher than LH-ir positive cells, and males had more FSH-ir and LH-ir positive cells. Total number of FSH-ir positive cells per μm² in the pituitary gland of cocks and hens, which were fed with a diet containing red hot pepper, increased significantly in the five months old male experimental group slides and also an increase in the number of LH-ir positive cells was significant in the three months old female experimental group slides. The reaction density of FSH-ir cells increased in the third month and LH-ir cells increased in the fourth month in both of the experimental groups. Our data suggest that activity of FSH and LH cells could be affected positively by the diet containing red hot pepper in the five months' development period of the laying hens and cocks.