THE ROLE OF THYROID AND ADRENAL GLAND IN REGULATION OF PLASMA CALCIUM LEVEL IN THE RAIN QUAIL, COTURNIX COROMANDELICA (GMELIN)

In the rain quail, C. coromandelica thyroidectomy and chemical adrenaledectomy failed to produce any significant change in plasma calcium level. There was no significant change in the histology of parathyroid and ultimobranchial gland. However, the effect of thiourea resulted into remarkable hypertrophy and hyperplasia of thyroid gland. The specific Davenport's silver impregnation staining techniques also failed to demonstrate the presence of C-cells in the thyroid gland of this bird suggesting the absence of hypocalcimic hormone produced by C-cells of thyroid as in mammals. It is, therefore, postulated that the thyroid and adrenal glands have no significant role in the regulation of plasma calcium level in the rain quail C. coromandelica.