title: Neuropeptides and amphibian prey-catching behavior.
abstract: In mammals, a number of hypothalamic neuropeptides have been implicated in stress-induced feeding disorders. Recent studies in anurans suggest that stress-related neuropeptides may act on elemental aspects of visuomotor control to regulate feeding. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, potent an orexic peptides in mammals, inhibit visually-guided prey-catching in toads. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), an orexic peptide in mammals, may be an important neuromodulator in inhibitory pre-tectal-tectal pathways involved in distinguishing predator and prey. Melanocortin, NPY and CRH neurons project onto key visuomotor structures within the amphibian brain, suggesting physiological roles in the modulation of prey-catching. Thus, neuropeptides involved in feeding behavior in mammals influence the efficacy of a visual stimulus in releasing prey-catching behavior. These neuropeptides may play an important role in how frogs and toads gather and process visual information, particularly during stress.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. jacarr@ttacs.ttu.edu
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Carr
authors: Cary L
authors: CL
authors: Brown
authors: Roshi
authors: R
authors: Mansouri
authors: Srividhya
authors: S
authors: Venkatesan
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010455:Peptides; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D012756:Sheep; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000378:metabolism; D013788:Thalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; D000521:alpha-MSH; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone