<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Evidence from animal studies suggests that endogenous nitric oxide and dopamine (DA) have a regulatory role in the rewarding system, but their interaction(s) have not been studied in avian species. In this study, 4 experiments were performed to determine the effects of central administration of L-arginine (nitric oxide precursor; 200 nmol), N<sup>G</sup>-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor; 100 nmol), amphetamine (an indirect DA agonist; 125 pmol) and DA (40 pmol) on feeding behavior in neonatal layer-type chickens (each experiment included 4 groups, n=12 birds in each group). Prior to the initiation of the treatments, birds were fasted for 3 hours (FD3). In experiment 1, chickens received intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of saline, L-NAME (100 nmol), amphetamine (125 pmol), and combination of L-NAME + amphetamine. In experiment 2, chickens received the ICV injection of saline, L-arginine (200 nmol), amphetamine (125 pmol) and their combination. In experiment 3, chickens received ICV injection of saline, L-arginine (200 nmol), DA (40 pmol) and L-arginine + DA. In experiment 4, chickens received ICV injection of saline, L-NAME (100 nmol), DA (40 pmol) and L-NAME + DA. Thereafter, the cumulative food intake (on the basis of metabolic body weight) was recorded until 2-h post injection. The results showed that ICV injection of amphetamine or DA significantly decreased food intake (P&lt;0.05). Also, co-administration of L-NAME + amphetamine attenuated the hypophagic effect of amphetamine (P&lt;0.05), while combined administration of L-NAME and DA had no effect on DA-induced hypophagia. Additionally, the hypophagic effect of amphetamine was significantly amplified by L-arginine (P&lt;0.05), but the combination of L-arginine and DA did not alter feeding behavior which was induced by DA. These results suggest an interaction between DAergic and nitrergic systems via a presynaptic mechanism on food intake regulation in layer-type chicken.</p></abstract>

Evidence from animal studies suggests that endogenous nitric oxide and dopamine (DA) have a regulatory role in the rewarding system, but their interaction(s) have not been studied in avian species. In this study, 4 experiments were performed to determine the effects of central administration of L-arginine (nitric oxide precursor; 200 nmol), NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor; 100 nmol), amphetamine (an indirect DA agonist; 125 pmol) and DA (40 pmol) on feeding behavior in neonatal layer-type chickens (each experiment included 4 groups, n=12 birds in each group). Prior to the initiation of the treatments, birds were fasted for 3 hours (FD3). In experiment 1, chickens received intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of saline, L-NAME (100 nmol), amphetamine (125 pmol), and combination of L-NAME + amphetamine. In experiment 2, chickens received the ICV injection of saline, L-arginine (200 nmol), amphetamine (125 pmol) and their combination. In experiment 3, chickens received ICV injection of saline, L-arginine (200 nmol), DA (40 pmol) and L-arginine + DA. In experiment 4, chickens received ICV injection of saline, L-NAME (100 nmol), DA (40 pmol) and L-NAME + DA. Thereafter, the cumulative food intake (on the basis of metabolic body weight) was recorded until 2-h post injection. The results showed that ICV injection of amphetamine or DA significantly decreased food intake (P<0.05). Also, co-administration of L-NAME + amphetamine attenuated the hypophagic effect of amphetamine (P<0.05), while combined administration of L-NAME and DA had no effect on DA-induced hypophagia. Additionally, the hypophagic effect of amphetamine was significantly amplified by L-arginine (P<0.05), but the combination of L-arginine and DA did not alter feeding behavior which was induced by DA. These results suggest an interaction between DAergic and nitrergic systems via a presynaptic mechanism on food intake regulation in layer-type chicken.

Endogenous Nitric Oxide and Dopamine Regulate Feeding Behavior in Neonatal Layer-type Chickens

Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture

Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Evidence from animal studies suggests that endogenous nitric oxide and dopamine (DA) have a regulatory role in the rewarding system, but their interaction(s)...

Endogenous Nitric Oxide and Dopamine Regulate Feeding Behavior in Neonatal Layer-type Chickens

Published Online: Oct 27, 2017

Page range: 1029 - 1042

Received: Nov 02, 2016

Accepted: Feb 20, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2016-0094

Keywords
endogenous nitric oxide, dopamine, food intake, layer-type chicken

© 2017 Morteza Zendehdel et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Endogenous Nitric Oxide and Dopamine Regulate Feeding Behavior in Neonatal Layer-type Chickens

Published Online: Oct 27, 2017

Page range: 1029 - 1042

Received: Nov 02, 2016

Accepted: Feb 20, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2016-0094

Keywordsendogenous nitric oxide, dopamine, food intake, layer-type chicken

© 2017 Morteza Zendehdel et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
endogenous nitric oxide, dopamine, food intake, layer-type chicken