Peripherally injected ghrelin and leptin reduce food hoarding and mass gain in the coal tit (Periparus ater).

ABSTRACT: In birds little is known about the hormonal signals that communicate nutritional state to the brain and regulate appetitive behaviours. In mammals, the peptide hormones ghrelin and leptin elevate and inhibit consumption and food hoarding, respectively. But in birds, administration of both ghrelin and leptin inhibit food consumption. The role of these hormones in the regulation of food hoarding in avian species has not been examined. To investigate this, we injected wild caught coal tits (Periparus ater) with leptin, high-dose ghrelin, low-dose ghrelin and a saline control in the laboratory. We then measured food hoarding and mass gain, as a proxy of food consumption, every 20 min for 2 h post-injection. Both high-dose ghrelin and leptin injections significantly reduced hoarding and mass ga

SUBMITTER: Henderson LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5998117 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature