The central effects of Nocistatin on food intake and locomotor activities in broiler- type chickens.

Nocistatin is a 17- amino acid peptide، and a product of the same precursor as Nociceptin/ orphanin FQ (NC). It has been shown that Nocistatin antagonize the effect of NC by interacting with the opioid receptor-like 1 (ORL1) receptors. In this study the effects of intracerebroventricular injection (ICV) of Nocistatin، the endogenous ligand of the NC، on food intake and locomotor activities were evaluated in male broiler-type chickens. The results of this study showed that the ICV injection of different doses of Nocistatin (5، 10 and 20 µg) did not alter food intake. There was not a significant difference among groups in regard to preening and stepping. But، there was a significant increase in the group receiving 10 µg /kg of Nocistatin in wing flapping in comparison to the control group (p<0. 05). In this regard، the chicken’s responses were shown to be different from rat، and species differences might be the cause of different response to this peptide.