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Bombesin-induced behavior in infant rats.
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
Peptides
|May 1, 1989
Summary
Bombesin peptide triggers scratching and grooming behaviors in young rat pups as early as 5 days old. It also reduces food intake and body weight in developing rats, mirroring adult responses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Bombesin (BBS) is a peptide with known behavioral effects in adult rodents.
- The developmental trajectory of BBS effects and receptor expression in early life is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavioral effects of bombesin in developing rat pups at different postnatal ages.
- To determine the onset of bombesin-induced behaviors and its impact on feeding and growth during early development.
Main Methods:
- Administration of varying doses of bombesin (0.1, 1, 10 mg/kg IP) to rat pups aged 5, 10, and 20 days.
- Observation and recording of specific behaviors such as scratching and grooming.
- Measurement of food intake and body weight changes in response to bombesin treatment.
Main Results:
- Bombesin administration induced scratching at 1 and 10 mg/kg and grooming at 10 mg/kg in 5-day-old rat pups.
- Lower doses (0.1, 1 mg/kg) significantly reduced diet intake and body weight in 15-day-old deprived rat pups.
- No other overt behavioral changes were observed up to 10 mg/kg in the developing pups.
Conclusions:
- Bombesin elicits specific behavioral responses, including feeding suppression, in rat pups from an early postnatal age.
- These findings align with established bombesin effects in adult rats and suggest early expression of functional bombesin receptors.
- The study highlights the potential for bombesin signaling to influence early-life development and behavior.