The role of 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors on harmalineinduced eating behavior in 24-h food-deprived broiler cockerels

This study was designed to examine the effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of ketanserin(5-HT2a receptor antagonist) and SB242084 (5-HT2c receptor antagonist) on harmaline induced feeding anddrinking response in 24-h food-deprived (FD24) broiler cockerels. At first, guide cannula was surgicallyimplanted in the right lateral ventricle of chickens. In experiment 1, birds were injected intracerebroventriculary with 0, 25, 50 and 100 μg of harmaline. In experiment 2, chickens received 10 μg ketanserin prior to the injection of harmaline. In experiment 3, birds were administered with harmaline after 3 μg SB242084 and the cumulative food and water intake was determined at 3 h post injection. The results of this study showed that harmaline decreases food consumption and increases water intake in FD24 broiler cockerels (P≤0.05). The effect of harmaline on food and water intake was significantly attenuated with ketanserin and SB242084 pretreatment (P≤0.05). These results suggest that there is an interaction between harmaline and 5-HT (via 5-HT2a and 5-HT2c receptors) on eating response in chicken.