Glucagon‐related peptides and the regulation of food intake in chickens

The regulatory mechanisms underlying food intake in chickens have been a focus of research in recent decades to improve production efficiency when raising chickens. Lines of evidence have revealed that a number of brain‐gut peptides function as a neurotransmitter or peripheral satiety hormone in the regulation of food intake both in mammals and chickens. Glucagon, a 29 amino acid peptide hormone, has long been known to play important roles in maintaining glucose homeostasis in mammals and birds. However, the glucagon gene encodes various peptides that are produced by tissue‐specific proglucagon processing: glucagon is produced in the pancreas, whereas oxyntomodulin (OXM), glucagon‐like peptide (GLP)‐1 and GLP‐2 are produced in the intestine and brain. Better understanding of the roles of these peptides in the regulation of energy homeostasis has led to various physiological roles being proposed in mammals. For example, GLP‐1 functions as an anorexigenic neurotransmitter in the brain and as a postprandial satiety hormone in the peripheral circulation. There is evidence that OXM and GLP‐2 also induce anorexia in mammals. Therefore, it is possible that the brain‐gut peptides OXM, GLP‐1 and GLP‐2 play physiological roles in the regulation of food intake in chickens. More recently, a novel GLP and its specific receptor were identified in the chicken brain. This review summarizes current knowledge about the role of glucagon‐related peptides in the regulation of food intake in chickens.     

胆囊收缩素对动物消化和摄食的调节

胆囊收缩素是一种广泛分布在动物消化系统、中枢及外周神经系统的脑肠肽,对动物胃肠道的作用主要是直接抑制胃酸分泌,抑制进食后的胃排空,并通过外周和中枢神经系统抑制胃运动。同时作为一种内源性生理饱感信号,抑制摄食行为,本文就此进行了阐述。     

腺苷一磷酸激活蛋白激酶与采食量调节

<正>腺苷一磷酸激活蛋白激酶(AMPK)的概念首次出现在1988年。近几年的研究表明,AMPK在调节细胞能量代谢上起着重要作用,被称作细胞内的“燃料开关”,在动物抵御和适应环境应激的过程中也起着重要作用。最新研究显示,AMPK通过一些激素和养分等途径参与采食量的调节。本文总结了AMPK在采食量调节中的作用和可能机制,揭示研究其与动物营养代谢的重要性关系。     

Ghrelin调节采食量的研究进展

Ghrelin是从人和大鼠的胃中分离出来的,作为生长激素促分泌素受体的内源性配体,具有促进生长激素(GH)的分泌、增加胃肠蠕动、调节神经内分泌、消化代谢和能量稳态等功能。此外,Ghrelin通过激活下丘脑弓状核中的神经肽Y(NPY)/刺鼠基因相关蛋白(AgRP)神经元,刺激食欲素(Orexin)等激素的释放调节摄食。文章就Ghrelin调节采食、消化代谢、与其他采食因子的关系等进行综述。     

Immune and endocrine regulation of food intake in sick animals

To understand why sick animals do not eat, investigators have studied how the immune system interacts with the central nervous system (CNS), where motivation to eat is ultimately controlled. The focus has been on the cytokines secreted by activated mononuclear myeloid cells, which include interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Either central or peripheral injection of recombinant IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α reduce food-motivated behavior and food intake in rodents. Moreover, these cytokines and their receptors are present in the endocrine system and brain, and antagonism of this system (i.e., the cytokine network) has been shown to block or abrogate anorexia induced by inflammatory stimuli. Recent studies indicate that the same cytokines act on adipocytes and induce secretion of leptin, a protein whose activity has been neuroanatomically mapped to brain areas involved in regulating food intake and energy expenditure. Therefore, many findings converge to suggest that the reduction of food intake in sick animals is mediated by inflammatory cytokines, which convey a message from the immune system to the endocrine system and CNS. The nature of this interaction is the focus of this short review.     

应用乙酰胆碱脂酶组织化学技术对鸡胚脑内微血管的观察

应用乙酰胆碱脂酶（ＡＣｈＥ）组织化学技术,研究了２８枚不同胚龄鸡脑内含ＡＣｈＥ阳性反应产物的微血管的分布。结果显示：在孵化第１８ｄ时,脑内已经出现了含ＡＣｈＥ阳性反应产物的微血管。ＡＣｈＥ阳性微血管主要分布在端脑的腹侧纹状体、内侧隔核、前连合核背侧区;间脑的视前区、丘脑前背外侧区、丘脑前背内侧区、丘脑背外侧区、缰核区、间脑中缝区域;中脑深核腹侧部、中脑背外侧核、中脑视叶脑室周腹内侧深层,中脑中缝区域。阳性微血管的管径均小于２０μｍ。结果提示：至少在孵化第１８ｄ时,鸡胚脑内乙酰胆碱已开始发挥其调节脑血流的作用。     

Intracerebroventricular injection of orexins does not stimulate food intake in neonatal chicks

1. Recently, 2 novel neuropeptides were discovered, both derived from the same precursor by proteolytic processing, which bind and activate 2 closely related orphan G protein-coupled receptors, Named orexin-A and -B (Sakurai et al., 1998). Both stimulate food intake when administered centrally to rats. 2. Our aim was to elucidate whether central injection of mammalian orexin-A or -B stimulates food intake in the chick. 3. Under conditions of free access to food, orexin-A did not alter the food intake of chicks, but cumulative food intake was significantly suppressed by orexin-B. 4. The orexin-B was then administered to chicks deprived of food for 3 h to confirm its suppressive effect. No significant effect of orexin-B on food intake was detected. 5. Central injection of orexin-B did not modify food intake when appetite was stimulated by fasting. 6. Neither of these orexins appears to stimulate feeding in chicks.     

Effects of food intake regulation on the energy metabolism of laying hens

1. The effects of dietary energy restriction on the energy metabolism of post‐peak‐of‐lay hens of two hybrid layer strains were studied by indirect calorimetry.

2. Starving and resting rates of heat production (SHP and RHP) were measured, over 1‐d periods, at intervals during a 25‐week period in which the experimental birds were individually restricted to 80% of their previous energy intake ad libitum.

3. In both strains mean RHP per bird was about 7% lower in the restricted birds than in controls fed ad libitum, but when RHP was expressed in terms of metabolic body size (kg^0.75) the two groups did not differ.

4. Mean SHP per bird was about 18% lower in the restricted birds of both strains than in the corresponding controls; the decrease in SHP per kg^0.75 was 12%.

5. Heat increment of feeding and calculated maintenance energy were higher, and net availability of metabolisable energy for maintenance and production was lower, in the restricted than in the control groups.

6. Gross efficiencies of egg production, in terms of both mass and energy, increased in the restricted birds.

7. Live‐weight and total carcass energy after 25 weeks of restriction were respectively about 15% and 30% lower in the restricted groups of both strains than in the groups fed ad libitum.     

Involvement of histaminergic and noradrenergic receptors in the oxytocin-induced food intake in neonatal meat-type chicks

Oxytocin neurons have a physiological role in food intake and energy balance. Several studies have shown that central histaminergic and adrenergic systems synapse on oxytocin neurons but there is no information for their interaction on food intake regulation in birds. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of α-fluoromethylhistidine (α-FMH, histidine decarboxylase inhibitor), chlorpheniramine (histamine H1 receptors antagonist), famotidine (histamine H2 receptors antagonist), thioperamide (histamine H3 receptors antagonist), prazosin (α1 receptor antagonist), yohimbine (α2 receptor antagonist), metoprolol (β1 adrenergic receptor antagonist), ICI 118,551 (β2 adrenergic receptor antagonist) and SR59230R (β3 adrenergic receptor antagonist) on oxytocin-induced hypophagia in 3-h food-deprived (FD₃) neonatal broiler chicken. In Experiment 1, 3 h-fasted chicks were given an ICV injection of saline, α-FMH (250 nmol), oxytocin (10 μg) and co-injection of α-FMH + oxytocin. Experiments 2–9 were similar to experiment 1 except birds were injected with chlorpheniramine (300 nmol), famotidine (82 nmol), thioperamide (300 nmol), prazosin (10 nmol), yohimbine (13 nmol), metoprolol (24 nmol), ICI 118,551(5 nmol) and SR59230R (20 nmol) instead of α-FMH, respectively. After injection cumulative food intake was measured until 120 min post injection. According to the results, ICV injection of oxytocin significantly decreased food intake in broiler chickens (P < 0.001). ICV injection of α-FMH significantly attenuated hypophagic effect of oxytocin (P < 0.001). Also, co-injection of chlorpheniramine plus oxytocin significantly decreased the effect of oxytocin on food intake (P < 0.001). Co-administration of thioperamide and oxytocin significantly amplified hypophagic effect of oxytocin in chickens (P < 0.001). In addition, ICI 118,551 attenuated hypophagic effect of oxytocin (P < 0.001); while famotidine, prazosin, yohimbine, metoprolol and SR59230R had no effect on oxytocin- induced food intake in FD3 broiler chickens. These results suggest that the effect of oxytocin on food intake is probably mediated by histaminergic (via H1 and H3 receptors) and noradrenergic (via β2 receptors) systems in broiler chickens.     

金银花提取液在鸡胚内抗新城疫病毒试验

为证明金银花抗新城疫病毒的作用效果,通过接种鸡胚方法,对病毒接种前、接种同时、接种后加药3种方式处理的鸡胚尿囊液血凝效价进行测定。结果显示,在3种不同的加药方式中,不同浓度的金银花提取液均能够降低新城疫病毒感染鸡胚尿囊液的血凝效价,其作用效果与提取液浓度呈正比例相关。结果表明,金银花提取液能够抑制新城疫病毒在鸡胚尿囊液中的增殖;金银花提取液在鸡胚内抗新城疫病毒活性与其加药方式及浓度有关。     

Central L-cysteine induces sleep, and D-cysteine induces sleep and abnormal behavior during acute stress in neonatal chicks

L-Cysteine (L-Cys) is a non-essential and glycogenic amino acid. Previously, we reported that the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of L-Cys induced sedative effects under isolation-induced stress in neonatal chicks. L-Cys has an optical isomer, D-Cys. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of L-Cys and D-Cys during a stressful condition in chicks. The i.c.v. injection of L-Cys and D-Cys (0.84 µmol) decreased both distress vocalization and spontaneous activity induced by isolation. However, the two cysteine isomers induced different behaviors. L-Cys increased sleep-like behavior while D-Cys caused abnormal behavior including syncope as well as sleep-like behavior. In conclusion, while both L-Cys and D-Cys caused a sedative effect when injected i.c.v, D-Cys caused abnormal behavior and may be detrimental to neonatal chicks.     

The regulation of food intake and correlated energy balance in mice.

In order to study the regulation of food intake and correlated body energy metabolism, the effect of restricted feeding during the light period in female IVCS mice was investigated. Access to food and water was restricted (RF group) for 3 weeks only from 10:00 hr to 17:00 hr, and that in the control group remained ad libitum. After starting food restriction (day 1), mean food intake decreased to 10% of the control value, then rose sharply, over the next 3 days, to reach 70% of the control value. Then, it decreased gradually to about 50% of the control value and remained at this low level thereafter. There was no significant difference between mean body weights for the two groups. Feed-efficiency was considered, therefore, to be higher in the RF than in the control group. RF-treatment increased plasma corticosterone levels and decreased locomotor activity. However, the diurnal patterns of plasma corticosterone levels and locomotor activity observed suggest that the circadian rhythm, synchronized with the light-dark cycle, persisted during RF-treatment. These findings suggest that restricted feeding during the naturally inactive phase (light period) induces a decrease in food intake. Animals seem to adapt to underfeeding, at least partly, by increasing feed-efficiency and plasma corticosterone levels and decreasing locomotor activity.     

Involvement of activin and inhibin in the regulation of food and water intake in the rat

The expression of activin and inhibin has been demonstrated in the hypothalamus, but their physiological roles in the brain remain to be elucidated. In the present study, involvement of activin and inhibin in the regulation of food and water intake was examined. Male rats were deprived of food or water for 12 and 60 hr, and mRNA levels of activin/inhibin alpha, betaA and betaB subunits in the hypothalamus were estimated by RT-PCR. Gene expression of alpha subunit transiently decreased at 12 hr of food deprivation, while it did not change during water deprivation. Food and water deprivation for 60 hr increased mRNA levels of betaA and betaB subunits, respectively. These results indicated that gene expression of each subunit was independently regulated. Injection of activin A (0.5 and 4.0 microg) into the third ventricle decreased food intake. Water intake was suppressed by 4.0 microg, but not 0.5 microg, of activin A. Intracerebroventricular injection of inhibin A (0.5 and 4.0 microg) decreased water intake in a dose dependent manner without affecting food intake, suggesting that inhibin could act independently of activin. Taken together, it is suggested that activin and inhibin take part in the central regulation of nutrient and fluid balance, though further study is needed to determine precise molecular species involved.     

周龄饲喂对肉仔鸡生理生化指标的影响

选用336只1日龄AA肉仔鸡,随机分为2个处理,每个处理4个重复,每重复42只(14只/笼)。处理1是三阶段饲喂(A)组,处理2是七阶段饲喂(WF)组,两组互为对照,考察周龄饲喂对肉仔鸡理化指标的影响。试验期内每周每重复分别抽取4只试鸡抽血并屠宰,测定血清尿酸、总蛋白、血糖含量及肝脏匀浆中黄嘌呤氧化酶(XOD)活性。试验结果表明:WF组,肉仔鸡血糖含量显著升高(P<0.05)、血清尿酸含量明显降低(P<0.01)、肝脏黄嘌呤氧化酶活性降低(P<0.05),而血清总蛋白含量没有明显变化(P>0.05)。通过周龄饲喂法,各阶段肉仔鸡血液中各项生理生化指标的绝对变化值减小。     

Influence of ketone body and the inhibition of fatty acid oxidation on the food intake of the chick

1. Fatty acid oxidation is known to be involved in the control of food intake in mammals. The effect of fatty acid oxidation on food intake in chickens was studied using a ketone body (beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HB)) and mercaptoacetate (MA) (an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation). 2. Central and peripheral injection of beta-HB decreased food intake in a dose-dependent manner, while low doses of MA had no effect. Higher doses of MA inhibited feeding but also caused mortality. 3. These results indicate that ketone bodies act as an inhibitory signal for food intake in both the central and peripheral nervous systems but that inhibition of fatty acid oxidation may not be associated with feeding behaviour in chicks.     

利用不同方法培养鸡胚成纤维细胞的研究

采用胰酶消化法和组织块培养法培养了大量优质的鸡胚成纤维细胞,并对培养的细胞进行了冻存和复苏,建立了一套较完备、快速的鸡胚胎成纤维细胞的培养模式。并探讨这两种培养方法的优缺点。     

The relationship of food intake during growth and food intake at maturity with lactation food intake in a mouse model

Selection for increased leanness and improved food efficiency in pigs has resulted in a decreased voluntary food intake. It has been argued that voluntary food intake during lactation should be considered in sow breeding programmes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the phenotypic correlation of food intake during growth and food intake at maturity with maximum lactation food intake in a mouse model. A total of 179 records were available on female mice selected for litter size at birth (S-line) and non-selected control females (C-line) from 3 weeks of age to 21 days in lactation. Half of the litters were standardized to eight pups per litter (s) and half were not standardized (ns). Growth intake was measured as the average intake between 21 and 42 days of age, mature intake was measured from a linear regression of food intake against age between 42 and 69 days of age, and lactation intake was measured as a linear regression of food intake against days in lactation between 5 and 14 days in lactation. In both lines, females with a higher growth intake also had a higher mature intake (r = 0.63 to 0.75, P < 0.0001). Lactation intake was related with growth intake and mature intake in Sns females (r = 0.50 and 0.46, P < 0.01) and with growth intake in Ss females (r = 0.32, P < 0.05). In both lines, lactation intake was highly correlated with litter weight (r = 0.48 to 0.94, P < 0.001). Sns and Ss females with higher growth intake supported larger litter weights during lactation (r = 0.32 and 0.30, respectively, P < 0.05) and Sns females with higher mature intakes tended to support larger litter weights (r = 0.28, P = 0.060). It is suggested that lactating C-line females eat to support a given litter size, while S-line females support the maximum litter weight that is allowed for by their intake capacity, and still produce at high levels when litters are standardized. Since lactating sows mobilise body reserves, the relationship of food intake during growth with that during lactation may be reflected in the relationship between growth intake and body condition.