title: Neuropeptide Control of Feeding Behavior in Birds and Its Difference with Mammals.
abstract: Feeding is an essential behavior for animals to sustain their lives. Over the past several decades, many neuropeptides that regulate feeding behavior have been identified in vertebrates. These neuropeptides are called "feeding regulatory neuropeptides." There have been numerous studies on the role of feeding regulatory neuropeptides in vertebrates including birds. Some feeding regulatory neuropeptides show different effects on feeding behavior between birds and other vertebrates, particularly mammals. The difference is marked with orexigenic neuropeptides. For example, melanin-concentrating hormone, orexin, and motilin, which are regarded as orexigenic neuropeptides in mammals, have no effect on feeding behavior in birds. Furthermore, ghrelin and growth hormone-releasing hormone, which are also known as orexigenic neuropeptides in mammals, suppress feeding behavior in birds. Thus, it is likely that the feeding regulatory mechanism has changed during the evolution of vertebrates. This review summarizes the recent knowledge of peptidergic feeding regulatory factors in birds and discusses the difference in their action between birds and other vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Production, Department of Agrobiological Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University Matsuyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tachibana
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Integrative Brain Sciences, Department of Biology and Center for Medical Life Science, Waseda University Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
keywords: birds; central nervous system; feeding; feeding regulatory peptides; neuropeptides