Feeding response following central administration of mesotocin and arginine-vasotocin receptor agonists in chicks (Gallus gallus)

• Central injections of MT and AVT induce anorexia and wing-flaps in chicks.
• The agonist for the MT receptor had no effect on these behaviors.
• The agonist for the AVT receptor induces anorexia and wing-flaps.
• Therefore the AVT but not MT receptor is related to MT- and AVT-induced behavior.

Mesotocin (MT) and arginine-vasotocin (AVT) are posterior pituitary derived hormones in birds and are homologous to mammalian oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP), respectively. We previously reported that intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of both MT and AVT inhibit feeding and induce wing-flapping in chicks (Gallus gallus). Because both peptides cause similar effects suggests that they might act via common receptors. However, the specific receptors of MT and AVT which mediate their anorexigenic effect have not been clarified in chicks. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to identify the receptor subtypes involved in MT- and AVT-induced anorexia and behavioral patterns by using several agonists. ICV injection of vasopressin-1 receptor agonist (V1R) (homologous to chicken AVT receptor-2 and -4 [VT2R and VT4R, respectively]), significantly decreased food intake while agonists of vasopressin-2 receptor (V2R) and OT receptor (OTR) (homologues of chicken AVT receptor-1 and MT receptor respectively) had no effect. In addition, V1R agonist induced wing-flapping although this was not affected by V2R or OTR agonists. Since VT2R has not been found in the brain of chicks, the present study suggested that VT4R might be related to the anorexigenic effect and wing-flapping induced by MT and AVT in chicks.