Expression and localization of the neuropeptide Y-Y4 receptor in the chick spleen: mRNA upregulation by high ambient temperature.

High ambient temperatures (HT) can increase diencephalic neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression, and central injection of NPY attenuates heat stress responses while inducing an antioxidative state in the chick spleen. However, there is a lack of knowledge about NPY receptor expression, and its regulation by HT, in the chick spleen. In the current study, male chicks were used to measure the expression of NPY receptors in the spleen and other immune organs under acute (30 vs.

Thermal manipulation modifies embryonic growth, hepatic free amino acid concentrations, and hatching performance in layer-type chicks.

Thermal manipulation (TM) of incubation temperature has been demonstrated to alter metabolism and post-hatch thermotolerance in broiler strains (meat-type chickens). Fewer reports were focused on layer-type chickens and there was no report on amino acid metabolism during TM in layer-type embryos. In this study, we investigated the effects of TM on embryonic development, hepatic amino acid metabolism, and hatching performance in layer-type chickens.

Intracerebroventricular injection taurine changes free amino acid concentrations in the brain and plasma in chicks.

Brain amino acid metabolism has been reported to regulate body temperature, feeding behavior and stress response. Central injection of taurine induced hypothermic and anorexigenic effects in chicks. However, it is still unknown how the amino acid metabolism is influenced by the central injection of taurine.

Comparison of oral administration of fructose and glucose on food intake and physiological parameters in broiler chicks.

Like glucose, fructose is a monosaccharide, but the mechanisms of its absorption and metabolism in the body are very different between the 2 molecules. In this study, we investigated the effects of oral administration of glucose and fructose on food intake, diencephalic gene expression, and plasma metabolite concentrations in broiler chicks. The animals used in this study were 4-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308).

Effect of neonatal isolation on responses to subsequent exposure to isolation stress in young chickens.

The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of isolation at an early age on behavioral and physiological responses of chickens to an isolation challenge at two weeks of age. Birds were assigned to a control group or to one of three treatments where chicks were isolated for 5 min per day. The groups were 1) no isolation (control); 2) early isolation (EI; 2 to 4 days of age); 3) late isolation (LI; 5 to 7 days of age); or 4) full isolation (FI; 2 to 7 days of age).