Glutamate ionotropic and metabotropic receptors affect feed intake in broiler cockerels

In this study the role of the glutamatergic system on feed intake in 24-hour-feed-deprivedbroiler cockerels was investigated. ICV injection of 0, 0.675, 1.25, and 2.5 nmol of glutamatereduced feed intake dose-dependently, and increased the latency time to start feeding.Pretreatment with 2.5 nmol HQCA, an ionotropic glutamate antagonist resulted in both anincrease in feed intake and a decrease in latency of birds to start feeding. Pretreatment with2nmol of MSPG, a metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist, severely reduced feed intakeand increased the latency to start feeding. These findings suggest, for the first time, thatglutamate, acting as a neurotransmitter, is involved in feed intake regulation in broilercockerels. This effect is probably mediated by both ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Itappears that both postsynaptic and presynaptic glutamate receptors are involved.

کلیدواژه ها:

feed intake ، broiler ، glutamate ، HQCA ، MSPG