Behavioral effects of intracerebroventricular injection of oxytocin in birds.
In addition to playing a role as a hormone, oxytocin (OT) can act as a neurotransmitter. In birds, mesotocin (MT) replaces OT. There is both direct and indirect evidence for behavioral effects of OT in rats and humans, but there have been no such studies performed in birds. The purpose of this study was to define the effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of OT (0-10 microg) on locomotion and feeding behaviors of broiler cockerels. Stepping and wing flapping were increased dose-dependently, but OT decreased preening. The i.c.v. injection of OT also caused a dose-dependent decrease in feed intake, feeding time and pecking frequency. These results suggest that OT might play a unique role in inducing a state of arousal in chickens that resembles fear/anxiety and also in reducing feed intake by acting on MT and/or vasotocin receptors.
Jonaidi
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Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, 76169-133 Kerman, Iran. hjonaidi@mail.uk.ac.ir
Oloumi
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MM
Denbow
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D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology*
D010121:Oxytocin