Synergistic Effects of Noradrenalin, Serotonin, and Oxytocin with Nesfatin on Central Control of Food Intake in Broiler Chickens

Appetite modulation is a set of physiological mechanisms that influence the various areas of the central nervous system. Noradrenaline, serotonin, and oxytocin have an important role in the central control of food intake in birds. On the other hand, nesfatin decreases food intake in birds. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explain the synergistic effects of noradrenalin, serotonin, and oxytocin with nesfatin on food intake in neonatal broiler chickens.

A total of one hundred and forty-four neonatal chicks were randomly divided into three experimental groups. Each experiment had a control group and three treatment groups (n=12 in each group). In all experiments, 3-hour food-deprived birds received intracerebroventricular ‎injections of either control diluent or drug solution. Then, the birds had ad libitum access to the ‎food and fresh water, and then cumulative food intake (gr) was measured based on the ‎percentage of the body. In the first experiment, normal saline, noradrenalin, nesfatin, and noradrenalin plus nesfatin were injected.‎ In the second experiment, normal saline, serotonin, nesfatin, and serotonin + nesfatin were injected. In the third experiment, normal saline, oxytocin, nesfatin, and oxytocin plus nesfatin were injected.

The results of the present study showed that co-injection of noradrenalin and nesfatin, serotonin plus nesfatin, and oxytocin plus nesfatin significantly reduced food intake in broiler chickens (P<0.05).

According to the results of the present study, there is probably a synergistic effect between noradrenalin, serotonin, and oxytocin with nesfatin on food intake control of neonatal broiler chicks.