Influence of the Adrenal Cortex on Wool Growth and its Relation to ‘Break’ and ‘Tenderness’ of the Fleece

摘要: WE were interested to know whether the adrenal cortex exerted a depressant action on wool growth in sheep. Such mechanism might underlie decline observed winter1 and during pregnancy2, since cold gestation are known increase adrenocortical activity other species3. The marked number of active follicles which begins about ten days after birth lamb (Ferguson, K. A., Schinckel, P. G., Carter, H. B., Clarke, W. H., preparation) may possibly be due release from inhibition. Field-observations link occurrence ‘break’ or ‘tenderness’ fleece4 with disease, advanced pregnancy environmental stresses expected stimulate secretion adrenocorticotrophic hormone.