title: Yolk hormones influence in ovo chemosensory learning, growth, and feeding behavior in domestic chicks.
abstract: In this study, we assessed whether prenatal exposure to elevated yolk steroid hormones can influence in ovo chemosensory learning and the behavior of domestic chicks. We simulated a maternal environmental challenge by experimentally enhancing yolk progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol concentrations in hen eggs prior to incubation. The embryos from these hormones-treated eggs (HO) as well as sham embryos (O) that had received the vehicle-only were exposed to the odor of fish oil (menhaden) between embryonic Days 11 and 20. An additional group of control embryos (C) was not exposed to the odor. All chicks were tested following hatching for their feeding preferences between foods that were or were not odorized with the menhaden odor. In the 3-min choice tests, the behavior of O chicks differed significantly according to the type of food whereas C and HO chicks showed no preference between odorized and non-odorized food. Our result suggests weaker response in HO chicks. In addition, HO chicks showed impaired growth and reduced intake of an unfamiliar food on the 24-h time scale compared to controls. Our data suggest that embryonic exposure to increased yolk hormone levels can alter growth, chemosensory learning, and the development of feeding behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR85, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France. aline.bertin@tours.inra.fr.|Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7247, Nouzilly, France. aline.bertin@tours.inra.fr.|Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France. aline.bertin@tours.inra.fr.|Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation (IFCE), 37380 Nouzilly, France. aline.bertin@tours.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertin
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR85, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France.|Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7247, Nouzilly, France.|Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France.|Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation (IFCE), 37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Maryse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meurisse
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR85, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France.|Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7247, Nouzilly, France.|Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France.|Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation (IFCE), 37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arnould
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR85, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France.|Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7247, Nouzilly, France.|Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France.|Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation (IFCE), 37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leterrier
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR85, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France.|Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7247, Nouzilly, France.|Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France.|Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation (IFCE), 37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Constantin
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR85, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France.|Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7247, Nouzilly, France.|Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France.|Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation (IFCE), 37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cornilleau
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR85, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France.|Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7247, Nouzilly, France.|Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France.|Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation (IFCE), 37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaudin
authors.affiliation: Novogen Mauguérand, 22800 Le Foeil, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burlot
authors.affiliation: INRA, UE1295, PEAT, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delaveau
authors.affiliation: INRA, UE1295, PEAT, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rat
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR85, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France.|Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7247, Nouzilly, France.|Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France.|Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation (IFCE), 37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calandreau
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development*; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000737:chemistry; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D009812:Odorants; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011372:Progestins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D005395:Fish Oils; D006728:Hormones; D011372:Progestins; C033266:Menhaden oil; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Gallus g. domesticus; chemosensory learning; feeding behaviors; growth; maternal effects; yolk steroids