Investigating The Role of NPY Receptors on Water Intake in Neonatal Broiler Chicken

Imbalance of body fluids can cause numerous problems and diseases including ascites in poultry. Therefore, identifying the mechanisms involved in controlling water intake can help to better understand the pathophysiology of related diseases. NPY is one of the neuropeptides involved in central control of water intake. When deprived of water, the mRNA synthesis of this neuropeptide increases in the hypothalamus. So, this study examines the role of NPY1 and NPY2 receptors in central control of water intake. Two series of experiments were conducted in this study. In the first and second experiments, male broiler chickens respectively received 10 μl of Evans Blue, 20 μg, 10 μg, 5 μg and 2.5 μg of B5063 and SF22 (receptors antagonists NPY) by ICV injection. Then cumulative water intake was measured at 90 and 180 minutes after injection. The results showed that ICV injection of B5063 (20, 10, 5 and 2.5 μg) resulted in reduction in water intake compared with the control group (p < 0.05), while none of the SF22 doses had an effect on cumulative water intake compared to the control group (P>0.05). The results of these experiments showed that the effect of NPY on water intake may be conducted through NPY1 receptor.