Exogenous cholecystokinin octapeptide in broiler chickens: satiety, conditioned colour aversion, and vagal mediation

Intraperitoneal injections of 3.5, 7.0, 14.0, and 28.0 micrograms/kg of CCK-8 into free-feeding broiler chickens significantly reduced food intake and delayed feeding (p < 0.05). To determine whether CCK can condition preference or aversion and to investigate the latency and the reversal of the effect, a low (2 micrograms/kg) and a high (14 micrograms/kg) dose of CCK-8 were administered using the coloured food paradigm. One colour, the conditioning stimulus (CS+), was paired with injections of CCK-8; the other colour was paired with injections of saline (CS-). The 2 micrograms/kg dose of CCK-8 neither reduced food intake nor conditioned a colour aversion. The 14 micrograms/kg dose significantly reduced food intake and conditioned a colour aversion (p < 0.05). When vagotomy was performed, the 14 micrograms/kg dose of CCK suppressed feeding in sham-operated birds (p < 0.05) but not in vagotomized birds (p > 0.05). A significant aversion for the food paired with CCK was obtained in sham-operated birds (p < 0.001) but not in vagotomized birds (p > 0.05). It was concluded that IP injections of CCK-8 reduce food intake in broiler chickens and that chicks can learn to associate the colour of the food with injections of CCK, developing an aversion. It was also shown that the vagus nerve mediates the CCK satiety effects and that aversion conditioning to CCK is dependent upon intact vagal innervation of the viscera.