Interaction between leptin and glutamatergic system on food intake regulation in neonatal chicken: role of NMDA and AMPA receptors

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the current study was to determine the possible interaction of the central leptin and Glutamatergic systems on feeding behavior in neonatal 3-hours food deprived (FD₃) broilers chickens.

Methods: In experiment 1, FD₃ chicken received intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of control solution (group i) and 2.5, 5 and 10 µg of Leptin (groups ii–iv). In experiment 2, FD₃ chicken were ICV injected with (group i) control solution and groups ii–iv with 2.5, 5 and 10 nmol of AG-490 (JAK₂ antagonist). In experiment 3, injections were (i) control solution, (ii) Leptin (10 µg), (iii) AG-490 (2.5 nmol) and (iv) Leptin + AG-490. In experiment 4, broiler chickens were ICV injected with (i) control solution, (ii) Leptin (10 µg), (iii) MK-801 (NMDA glutamate receptors antagonist; 15 nmol) and (iv) Leptin + MK-801. Experiments 5–9 were similar to experiment 1, except chicken were ICV injected with CNQX (AMPA receptor antagonist, 390 nmol), UBP-302 (Kainate receptor antagonist, 390 nmol), AIDA (mGluR1 antagonist, 2 nmol), LY341495 (mGluR2 antagonist, 150 nmol) and UBP1112 (mGluR3 antagonist, 2 nmol) instead of MK-801. Then, food intake was measured until 120 min after injection.

Results: ICV injection of leptin (2.5, 5 and 10 µg) significantly decreased food intake in a dose dependent manner (p < 0.05). Also, ICV injection of the JAK₂ antagonist (2.5, 5 and 10 nmol) had hyperphagic effect in chicken (p < 0.05). Co-administration of leptin + AG-490, partially decreased leptin-induced hypophagia in broiler chicken (p < 0.05). In addition, co-injection of leptin + MK-801 significalty inhibited leptin-induced hypophagia in neonatal chicken (p < 0.05). Also, co-administration of leptin + CNQX partially attenuated hypophagic effect of leptin in chicken (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of present study suggest that leptin has hypophagic effect in neonatal chicken and this effect is probably mediated via NMDA and AMPA glutamatergic receptors.

Keywords:

• Leptin
• glutamate
• JAK2
• food intake
• broiler chicken

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the central laboratory (Dr. Rastegar Lab.) of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran for cooperation. This research is conducted as a part of the PhD thesis of the first author.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.