Effect of L-5-Hydroxytryptophan on drinking behavior in Coturnix japonica (Temminck and Schlegel, 1849) (Galliformes: Aves): involvement of renin-angiotensin system

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-HTP) and its relationship with the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on the drinking behavior in Japanese quails. Normally-hydrated quails that received injections of L-HTP (12.5; 25 and 50 mg.kg-1) by the intracoelomic route (ic) expressed an increase in water intake, which was inhibited by captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. In addition, captopril also induced such a response in birds under previous fluid deprivation. High doses of captopril (35-70 mg.kg-1, sc) in normally-hydrated quails decreased the spontaneous water intake while low doses of captopril (2-5 mg.kg-1, sc) did not prompt water intake after L-HTP administration. Losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist in mammals, did not change the water intake levels in normally-hydrated or water-deprivated birds. Serotonin (5-HT) injections did not provoke its known dipsogenic response.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a influência do L-5-hidroxitriptofano (L-HTP) e sua relação com o sistema renina-angiotensina (SRA) no comportamento dipsogênico de codornas. Codornas normohidratadas que receberam L-HTP em diferentes doses (12,5; 25 e 50 mg.kg-1) por via intracelomática (ic) expressaram um aumento na ingestão de água, o qual foi suprimido pela administração prévia de captopril (inibidor da ECA-enzima conversora de angiotensina). Esta ação inibitória do captopril, em menor intensidade, foi também evidenciada em aves previamente submetidas ao jejum hídrico. O tratamento isolado com captopril (35-70 mg.kg-1) reduziu consideravelmente a ingestão espontânea de água em codornas normohidratadas, enquanto baixas doses (2-5 mg.kg-1) não provocaram aumento na ingestão de água induzida pelo L-HTP. Losartan, um antagonista de receptores AT1 em mamíferos, não foi capaz de modificar os níveis de ingestão hídrica, tanto em aves normohidratadas quanto em aves privadas de água. Serotonina aplicada perifericamente não promoveu a conhecida resposta dipsogênica de mamíferos.

Effect of L-5-Hydroxytryptophan on drinking behavior in Coturnix japonica (Temminck and Schlegel, 1849) (Galliformes: Aves): involvement of renin-angiotensin system.

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-HTP) and its relationship with the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on the drinking behavior in Japanese quails. Normally-hydrated quails that received injections of L-HTP (12.5; 25 and 50 mg.kg-1) by the intracoelomic route (ic) expressed an increase in water intake, which was inhibited by captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. In addition, captopril also induced such a response in birds under previous fluid deprivation. High doses of captopril (35-70 mg.kg-1, sc) in normally-hydrated quails decreased the spontaneous water intake while low doses of captopril (2-5 mg.kg-1, sc) did not prompt water intake after L-HTP administration. Losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist in mammals, did not change the water intake levels in normally-hydrated or water-deprivated birds. Serotonin (5-HT) injections did not provoke its known dipsogenic response.

Evidence indicating participation of the serotonergic system in controlling feeding behavior in Coturnix japonica (Galliformes: Aves).

We investigated participation of the brain serotonergic system in food intake control by using oral and systemic administration of serotonin precursors in quails (Coturnix japonica). Dietary supplemental tryptophan (0.1-50.0 g/kg) provoked a dose-dependent inhibition of food intake during a 5-h observation period, which persisted up to 24 h for doses of 30.0 and 50.0 g/kg. Normally fed and fasted animals treated with hydroxytryptophan (12.5-50.0 mg/kg) by the intracoelomic route showed an acute inhibition of food intake. Hypophagia in fasted birds was only effective when the precursor was administered immediately before food presentation. A similar response was obtained by administering serotonin (0.125-2.5 mg/kg, sc), with animals showing a hypnogenic response within the first ten minutes after administration, suggesting that, in contrast to mammals, the amine crosses the blood-brain barrier in quails. Administration of hydroxytryptophan at all doses tested induced significant dipsogenic behavior despite the concomitant hypnogenic response. The results suggest the involvement of serotonergic pathways in food intake control in quails and also show, for the first time, hypnogenic action induced by serotonin and a hyperdipsic effect elicited by hydroxytryptophan.

Evidence indicating participation of the serotonergic system in controlling feeding behavior in Coturnix japonica (Galliformes: Aves)

Investigamos a participação do sistema serotonérgico cerebral no controle da ingestão de alimento em codornas (Coturnix japonica) por meio da administração oral e sistêmica de precursores da serotonina. A suplementação dietética com triptofano (0,1-50,0 g/kg de ração) provocou inibição dose-dependente da ingestão de alimento em 5 h de avaliação, que se manteve ao final de 24 h com doses de 30,0 e 50,0 g/kg. Codornas tratadas com hidroxitriptofano (12,5-50,0 mg/kg, via intracoelomática) exibiram aguda inibição da ingestão alimentar, tanto as normoalimentadas quanto as submetidas ao jejum. Nas aves em jejum, a resposta hipofágica foi efetiva apenas quando a administração do precursor foi feita imediatamente antes da oferta de alimento. Resposta similar foi alcançada com a administração de serotonina (0,125-2,5 mg/kg, sc). Nos minutos iniciais após a administração desenvolveu-se resposta hipnogênica, implicando assunção de que essa amina atravessa a barreira hemato-encefálica em codornas, diferentemente do observado em mamíferos. A administração de hidroxitriptofano em todas as doses utilizadas induziu intensa resposta dipsogênica, não obstante o desenvolvimento concomitante de resposta hipnogênica. Os resultados sugerem o envolvimento de vias serotonérgicas no controle da ingestão de alimento em codornas e mostram pela primeira vez as ações hipnógena, induzida pela serotonina e hiperdipsética, pelo hidroxitriptofano.