Effects of in ovo treatment with PACAP antagonist on general activity, motor and social behavior of chickens.
Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been shown to influence nervous system development. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of in ovo treatment with the PACAP antagonist PACAP6-38 during embryonic life (E8 and E16) on motor activity and social behavior in chicken. Our results showed that a single injection of PACAP6-38 during the first half of embryonic life caused subtle transient changes in general behavior and motor control when compared to saline-treated controls. Increased activity and reduced anxiety were observed also in a novel environment at 2 days after hatching. However, most of these behavioral differences disappeared by 2 weeks. PACAP6-38-treatment during the first half of embryonic life resulted in markedly reduced social behavior, which was still present at 2 weeks of age. Treatment during the second half of embryonic life resulted in no behavioral differences between control and PACAP6-38-treated chicken. PACAP content in different brain areas was not different between control and PACAP6-38-treated chicken at 5 days or 3 weeks of age, but it decreased significantly with age in both groups. In summary, our results show that PACAP6-38 treatment at E8 caused transient changes in motor behavior, and long-lasting reduction in social behavior.
Hollósy
Tibor
T
Department of Anatomy (Neurohumoral Regulations Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Medical Faculty, Pécs University, Szigeti u 12, Pécs 7624, Hungary.
Józsa
Rita
R
Jakab
Balázs
B
Németh
József
J
Lengvári
István
I
Reglodi
Dóra
D
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000187:drug effects*; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012919:Social Behavior
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; C075647:pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating-peptide (6-38)