Central administration of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone inhibits fasting- and neuropeptide Y-induced feeding in neonatal chicks

In the present study, the effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) on food intake of neonatal chicks was examined. In experiment 1, i.c.v. injection of alpha-MSH (0.04, 0.2 and 1 mu g) significantly inhibited food intake of 3-h fasted chicks in a dose-dependent manner. In experiment 2, alpha-MSH strongly inhibited neuropeptide Y-induced feeding when neuropeptide Y (2.5 mu g) and several doses of alpha-MSH were given simultaneously i.c.v. These results suggest that alpha-MSH plays an important role in the regulation of food intake of neonatal chicks. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.