Synergistic effects of neuromedin S with dopamine and noradrenaline on food intake in 5-day-old chickens

Dopamine and noradrenaline  play an important role in food intake control. On the other hand, neuromedin S (NMS) decreases food intake. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of dopamine and noradrenaline  with a sub-effective dose of NMS on food intake in neonatal chickens.

A total of 132 five-old-day chicks were randomly divided into three experimental groups. Each experiment had a control group and three treatment groups (n = 11 in each group). Three-hour food-deprived birds received intracerebroventricular ‎injections of either control diluent or drug solution. In the first experiment, control solution, NMS (0.25 nmol), L-DOPA (dopamine precursor; 125 nmol), and NMS + L-DOPA were injected.‎  In the second experiment, control solution, NMS (0.25 nmol), dopamine (10 nmol), and NMS + dopamine were injected. In the third experiment, control solution, NMS (0.25 nmol), noradrenaline (37.5 nmol), and , NMS + noradrenaline were injected.

Although the injection of NMS with a dose of 0.25 (sub-effective dose), L-dopa with a dose of 125 (sub-effective dose), dopamine with a dose of 10 (sub-effective dose), and noradrenaline with a dose of 37.5 (sub-effective dose) had no effect on food intake (p < 0.05), the co-injection of Neuromedin S with L-dopa or dopamine or noradrenaline decreased food intake (p < 0.05).

According to the results of the present study, there is probably a synergistic effect between NMS with dopamine and noradrenaline on food intake control of neonatal chicks.