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Role of adrenergic alpha-2-receptors on feeding behavior in layer-type chicks
Tetsuya Tachibana1, Kunio Sugahara, Hiroshi Ueda
1Laboratory of Animal Production, Department of Agrobiological Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Tarumi 3-5-7, Matsuyama 790-8566, Japan. tetsu@agr.ehime-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
The present study was designed to investigate the role of brain adrenergic alpha-2-receptors on feeding regulation of layer-type chicks. Intracerebroventricular injection of the adrenergic alpha-2-receptor agonist, clonidine, stimulated food intake. This effect was blocked by co-injection of the alpha-2-receptor antagonist, yohimbine, demonstrating that the alpha-2-receptor is related to stimulation of feeding in layer-type chicks. Stimulation of food intake caused by neuropeptide Y and beta-endorphin was attenuated by co-injection with yohimbine. However, yohimbine did not block prolactin-releasing peptide stimulation of food intake. It is therefore likely that brain adrenergic alpha-2-receptors mediate the orexigenic effects of neuropeptide Y and beta-endorphin in layer-type chicks.
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