Food intake regulation in birds

✍ Scribed by Denbow, D. Michael

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 143 KB
• Volume: 283
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-104X
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-010x(19990301/01)283:4/5<333::aid-jez3>3.0.co;2-r

✦ Synopsis

Food intake regulation in birds represents a complex homeostatic mechanism involving multiple levels of control. This review discusses the role of various neurotransmitters and nutrients in regulating food intake. These compounds have effects on food intake when injected both inside and outside the blood-brain barrier. Food intake is decreased when various compounds including epinephrine, amino acids, glucose, and fatty acids are infused directly into the hepatic portal blood system. Furthermore, genetic selection for increased body weight as has occurred in broiler type chickens has altered the food intake response to such infusions. Food intake has not been increased by injections into the liver. A considerable number of neurotransmitters have also been shown to either increase or decrease food intake when injected directly into the central nervous system. Genetic selection, physiological state of the bird, and the site of injection influence the response to these compounds. When injected into the brain, neuropeptide Y, avian pancreatic polypeptide, and opioids are potent stimulators of food intake whereas other peptides investigated to date decrease food intake. While many aspects of food intake regulation in birds appear similar to that in mammals, there are some responses that are unique to birds.