Short communication: Short-term fasting and refeeding induced changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue physiology in...

Adipose tissue development is influenced by a variety of factors, including nutrition and genetic background. Among avian species, the most is known in chickens and it is unclear if other less-artificially-selected birds are similar during the first week post-hatch. The aim of this study was thus to determine effects of fasting and refeeding on adipose tissue physiology in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). On day 7 post-hatch, quail were randomly assigned to fed (control), 6 h of fasting (fasted), or 6 h of fasting followed by 1 h of refeeding (refed) groups. Blood samples were collected for plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) determination and subcutaneous adipose tissues were harvested for gene expression analyses. Plasma NEFAs were elevated in the fasted state and restored to baseline within 1 h of refeeding, whereas the expression of monoglyceride lipase in subcutaneous adipose tissue was not affected by feeding status. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α mRNA was decreased by fasting and this change persisted through refeeding, whereas neuropeptide Y receptor 5 mRNA was decreased in refed compared to fasted birds. Our results suggest that fasting promotes lipolysis and gene expression changes in young quail with some of these changes restored to original levels within only 1 h of refeeding. Thus, in quail, adipose tissue physiology is dynamic and influenced by short-term changes in nutritional status during the early post-hatch period.