scholarly journals Neuromodulatory circuit effects on Drosophila feeding behaviour and metabolism

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Eriksson ◽  
Marlena Raczkowska ◽  
Rapeechai Navawongse ◽  
Deepak Choudhury ◽  
James C. Stewart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Behavioural Activity ◽  
Transgenic Lines ◽  
Group Feeding ◽  
Vinegar Fly ◽  
Climbing Ability ◽  
Genetically Manipulated

AbstractAnimals have evolved to maintain homeostasis in a changing external environment by adapting their internal metabolism and feeding behaviour. Metabolism and behaviour are coordinated by neuromodulation; a number of the implicated neuromodulatory systems are homologous between mammals and the vinegar fly, an important neurogenetic model. We investigated whether silencing fly neuromodulatory networks would elicit coordinated changes in feeding, behavioural activity and metabolism. We employed transgenic lines that allowed us to inhibit broad cellular sets of the dopaminergic, serotonergic, octopaminergic, tyraminergic and neuropeptide F systems. The genetically-manipulated animals were assessed for changes in their overt behavioural responses and metabolism by monitoring eleven parameters: activity; climbing ability; individual feeding; group feeding; food discovery; both fed and starved respiration; fed and starved lipid content; and fed/starved body weight. The results from these 55 experiments indicate that individual neuromodulatory system effects on feeding behaviour, motor activity and metabolism are dissociated.

EFFECTS OF GROWTH INHIBITION BY HYDROCORTISONE ACETATE ON VARIANCE IN CHICKENS

1970 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 627-634
Author(s):  
J. S. Gavora ◽  
G. C. Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Hormonal Treatment ◽  
Genotype By Environment Interaction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Internal Environment ◽  
Hydrocortisone Acetate ◽  
Genotype By Environment ◽  
Treatment Interaction

Traditionally genotype by environment interaction studies have dealt with changes in external environment. In this experiment an attempt was made to alter internal environment and keep external environment constant. Cockerels from each of six different commercial stocks were injected with 0,1,2 and 4 mgs hydrocortisone acetate per 100 gms body weight at 14 days of age. This type of hormonal treatment was shown to release additional variability in growth without producing any stock-treatment interaction at the level of means. The results indicate a possible new avenue for future research.

Adaptive changes in the appetite, growth and feeding behaviour of pony mares offered ad libitum access to a complete diet in either a pelleted or chaff-based form

2002 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. McG. Argo ◽  
J. E. Cox ◽  
C. Lockyer ◽  
Z. Fuller
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Crude Fibre ◽  
Period 2 ◽  
Complete Diet ◽  
Gross Energy ◽  
Ad Libitum

AbstractSeven, 3-year-old pony mares (~230 kg) were used in a cross-over study to compare the appetite, energy and nutrient digestibilities, growth rate and feeding behaviour, when a complete diet was offered ad libitum in either the original loose-chaff mix (C), or as a more convenient, milled and pelleted preparation (P). Ad libitum access to the study diet (gross energy = 17·2 MJ/kg dry matter (DM)) was attained over 2 weeks. In the following 4 weeks, groups 1 (no. = 3) and 2 (no. = 4) received pelleted and chaff-based diets respectively. Dietary forms were exchanged during week 5 and ad libitum provision continued for a further 4 weeks. Behaviour and apparent nutrient digestibilities were assessed in weeks 3 and 4 of each period. Pelleted food had a lower proportion of water (P, 0·12; C, 0·22), but relative proportions of oil (0·04), crude protein (0·08), crude fibre (0·29), neutral-detergent fibre (NDF; 0·53) and gross energy (GE) were neither altered by food processing nor time. Apparent digestibilities (DM, 0·49; GE, 0·50; NDF, 0·40 in period 1) of the pelleted and chaff-based diets were similar within periods but decreased (P 0·01) to a similar extent for both diet types (proportional changes: DM, –0·14; GE, –0·16; NDF, –0·28) in period 2. Overall, mean intakes of digestible energy (DE) for chaff-fed animals during period 1 were 0·73 (P 0·001) of pellet DE intake (DEI). Mean DEI of pellets increased (P 0·001) during period 1 to attain 1·76 (s.e. 0·25) MJ/kg M0·75 on day 25. Following transfer from pellets to chaff, DEI decreased (P 0·001) to 0·68 (s.e. 0·07) MJ/kg M0·75 by the end of period 2. In contrast, DEI of animals which progressed from chaff to pellets remained relatively constant between periods. Oestrous behaviour caused no detectable change in the appetite of individual mares. Irrespective of differences in DEI, average daily gain (ADG) in body weight and condition score (CS) did not differ between groups. Overall, mean ADG decreased (P 0·01) from 1·54 (s.e. 0·17) kg/day in period 1 to 0·26 (s.e.0·08) kg/day in period 2. Changes in body weight were associated with CS (R2 = 0·72). Each CS point represented a 53·4 (s.e. 4·8) kg gain in body weight. Chaff meals were longer (30·6 (s.e. 1·6) min, P 0·001), less frequent (23·8 (s.e. 1·4) per day, P 0·001) and associated with a lower bite rate (3·8 (s.e.0·2) per min, P 0·001) and increased chewing requirement (23 (s.e. 1·2) per bite, P 0·001), which decreased the rate of DM intake (17·0 (s.e. 0·9) g/min, P 0·0.01). Overall, chaff-fed animals spent more time feeding (0·50 (s.e. 1·3) of the time; P 0·0.01), primarily at the expense of non-feeding activity and rest. The ad libitum feeding regime enabled stabled ponies to re-establish natural feeding patterns and offers a viable alternative to meal and forage feeding. The more slowly ingested chaff form maximized time spent feeding and limited changes in DEI during the introductory period. Although CS and ADG increased over the first 4 weeks, growth and appetite returned to near maintenance values within 9 weeks in association with a decrease in dietary energy intake and nutrient digestibility.

Behavioral-Response of Brushtail Possums, Trichosurus-Vulpecula, to Baits Used in Pest-Control

1990 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 601 ◽  
Author(s):  
DR Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Taste Aversion ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Behavioral Response ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Learned Aversion ◽  
Control Programmes

The behavioural responses of captive possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were observed during first encounters with non-toxic and toxic carrot and pellet baits used in pest control programmes. Possums confronted with new baits first used smell in a highly discriminating way, and then taste, which sometimes changed their initial response. Toxic carrot baits were rejected by 27.5% of possums, equally by smell and taste aversion, and toxic pellet baits by 34% of possums, mainly by taste aversion. Few (5-7%) rejected non-toxic baits. Such non-learned aversion mechanisms therefore have an important role in the feeding behaviour of possums. A range of flavours tested, using barley as a food base, showed that only orange-flavored barley was significantly preferred to non-flavoured barley; 19 flavours had no significant effect, and 19 others significantly reduced barley consumption. Orange and cinnamon, which was ranked fourth and repels some bird species, were tested as masks for 1080 baits. Both flavours effectively masked the aversive smell and taste of 1080. The levels of toxic flavoured bait rejection were low and did not differ from those of non-toxic (flavoured or non-flavoured) baits. Very few possums were observed vomiting, a behaviour in other species that may assist survival.

scholarly journals Hormonal Changes in Menopause and Orexin-A Action

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Messina ◽  
Andrea Viggiano ◽  
Vincenzo De Luca ◽  
Antonietta Messina ◽  
Sergio Chieffi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Hormonal Changes ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Orexin A ◽  
Menopausal Syndrome ◽  
Hypothalamic Neuropeptides ◽  
Estrogen Depletion

Menopause is a period of significant physiological changes that may be associated with increased body weight and obesity-related diseases. Many researches were conducted to assess the contribution of factors such as estrogen depletion, REE decline, and aging to weight gain. An increase in orexin-A plasma levels, paralleling lower estrogen levels, was found during menopause. Orexins are hypothalamic neuropeptides recently discovered, involved in the regulation of feeding behaviour, sleep-wakefulness rhythm, and neuroendocrine homeostasis. Orexins might offer the missing link between postmenopausal hypoestrogenism and other manifestations of the menopausal syndrome, including appetite and weight changes and increase in cardiovascular risk.

scholarly journals Correlated responses to selection for large body size in oMt1a-oGH transgenic mice: reproductive traits

2000 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. R. PARKS ◽  
E. J. EISEN ◽  
I. J. PARKER ◽  
L. G. HESTER ◽  
J. D. MURRAY
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Correlated Responses ◽  
Term Selection ◽  
Transgenic Lines

Correlated responses in female reproductive performance were evaluated following short-term selection within full-sib families for increased 8-week body weight in two replicates of four lines of mice: two ovine metallothionein–ovine growth hormone (oMt1a-oGH) transgene-carrier lines, one from a high-growth background (TM) and one from a control background (TC), and two non-transgenic lines, one from each of these genetic backgrounds (NM and NC, respectively). A fifth line (CC), not containing the transgene, served as a randomly selected control. The initial frequency of the oMt1a-oGH transgene construct in the TM and TC lines was 0·5. The frequency of transgenic females sampled at generations 7 and 8 of selection was 84·0% and 6·1% in the TC and TM lines, respectively. No significant female infertility differences were detected between transgene-carrier and non-transgenic lines or between transgenic and non-transgenic mice within carrier lines, whereas high-growth background lines had a higher infertility than control background lines (P < 0·05). Correlated responses in the TC transgene-carrier line were suggestive of reduced reproductive performance as indicated by increased post-implantation mortality (P < 0·05), number of dead fetuses plus implants (P < 0·05), and loss of fetuses from day 16 to parturition (P < 0·001). For the first two traits, the negative correlated responses were accounted for by the reduced performance of transgenic compared with non-transgenic females. Embryos carrying the transgene may also have a lower viability. In contrast, the NC non-transgenic line did not exhibit reduced reproductive performance for these traits. The low frequency of the transgene in the high-growth background TM line was associated with reduced fitness and a lower additive effect for 8-week body weight compared with the control background TC line.

The effect of beak trimming on food intake, feeding behaviour and body weight in adult hens

1982 ◽  
Vol 8 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 147-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Gentle ◽  
B.O. Hughes ◽  
R.C. Hubrecht
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Beak Trimming

Hard prey specialists or opportunistic generalists? An examination of the diet of the cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. Collins ◽  
M. R. Heupel ◽  
R. E. Hueter ◽  
P. J. Motta
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Charlotte Harbor ◽  
Severe Damage ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Cownose Ray ◽  
Rhinoptera Bonasus ◽  
Group Feeding ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance

Atlantic cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) are benthic, suction feeders whose foraging activities have been implicated in severe damage to commercial shellfish industries. With jaws highly modified for durophagy, it has been assumed that R. bonasus are crushing specialists that feed primarily upon hard molluscan prey. Stomach contents from R. bonasus caught within Florida’s Charlotte Harbor estuary between July 2003 and July 2004 were analysed using the index of relative importance (IRI) to determine most important prey types. Prey items were identified from 38 families and fell into nine distinctive groups. The three most dominant prey groups were crustaceans (%IRI = 55.31), polychaetes (%IRI = 25.20) and bivalves (%IRI = 12.58). Shoalmates had more similar diets than non-shoalmates, suggesting group feeding. Most small or softer-bodied prey consumed were relatively intact, indicating lack of prey processing and capture through suction feeding. All larger, harder-bodied prey showed evidence of crushing (fractured and broken shells). Although R. bonasus has been characterised as a hard prey specialist, these results suggest it may behave as an opportunistic generalist, modifying feeding behaviour to consume readily available prey.

scholarly journals Activity patterns and feeding behaviour of hyrax (Procavia capensis) in the Mountain Zebra National Park

1987 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 118-122
Author(s):  
L. J. Fourie ◽  
I. G. Horak ◽  
M. R. Perrin
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
National Park ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Extended Time ◽  
Behavioural Thermoregulation ◽  
Late Afternoon ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Group Feeding ◽  
Inactive Phase ◽  
Procavia Capensis

The activity patterns of marked hyrax in the Mountain Zebra National Park were quantified by direct observations. Extended periods are spent on basking during winter (6,8 h) and summer (5,3 h) respectively. At least 80 % of each day is spent in an inactive phase. The more extended time spent on movement and time spent within refuges during summer (0,4 and 2,7 h), compared to winter (0,2 and 0,9 h), can possibly be interpreted in terms of behavioural thermoregulation. Distinct differences between the feeding behaviour of juveniles (< 6 months) and older hyrax were observed. Foraging of juveniles was limited to a distance of 40 m or less from refuges and took place under the surveilance of adults. Foraging of older hyrax frequently occurred for extended distances (up to 500 m) from refuges. These hyrax frequently visited riparian thickets. Foraging excursions of individual hyrax lasted for 0,5 - 8 h. The reported early and late afternoon group feeding sessions for hyrax older than 5 months could not be confirmed.

scholarly journals Effect of toys on behaviour and body weight of weaned pigs after mixing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Su Hwang ◽  
Jae-Kang Lee ◽  
Tae-Kyung Eom ◽  
Dong-Ho Lee ◽  
Shin-Jae Rhim
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Video Technology ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Social Behaviours

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a toy on the behaviour and body weight of weaned pigs after mixing. Two groups (192 pigs in total, control: without toy; treatment: with toy placed on the floor) of weaned pigs housed in pens (1.8 m × 1.4 m, 4 pigs/pen) were This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a toy on the behaviour and body weight of weaned pigs after mixing. Two were observed with the aid of video technology for nine consecutive hours in the early (days 1 and 2) and late (days 38 and 39) period after mixing. Bodyweight of pigs at the end of the study (Mann-Whitney U-test, Z = –2.46, P = 0.01) and the average daily gain (Z = –2.75, P &lt; 0.01) were 10% higher in the treatment group than in the control group. The presence of the toy in the pen influenced the pig behaviours. In pens enriched with toys, there was an increase in feeding behaviour and a decrease in agonistic and belly nosing behaviours. Toy supply reduced negative social behaviours and thereby improved the bodyweight of weaned pigs. The results of this study suggest that toys used as environmental enrichment are useful for enhancing pig welfare and effective for farmers.  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document