Possible role of neuropeptide Y on zymosan- and lipopolysaccharide-induced change in gastrointestinal feed passage via the medulla oblongata in chicks

Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2023 Dec 24:111565. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111565. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTZymosan is a fungi-derived pathogen-associated molecular pattern. It activates the immune system and induces the reduction of feed passage rate in the gastrointestinal tract of vertebrates including birds. However, the mechanism mediating the zymosan-induced inhibition of feed passage in the gastrointestinal tract remains unknown. Since the medulla oblongata regulates the digestive function, it is plausible that the medulla oblongata is involved in the zymosan-induced inhibition of feed passage. The present study was performed to identify the genes that were affected by zymosan within the medulla oblongata of chicks (Gallus gallus) using an RNA sequencing approach. We found that mRNAs of several bioactive molecules including neuropeptide Y (NPY) were increased with an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of zymosan. The increase of mRNA expression of NPY in the medulla oblongata was also observed after the IP injection of lipopolysaccharide, derived from gram-negative bacteria. These results suggest that medullary NPY is associated with physiological changes during fungal and bacterial infection. Furthermore, we found that intracerebroventricular injection of NPY and its receptor agonists reduced the feed passage from the crop. Additionally, the injection of NPY reduced the feed passage from the proventriculus to lower digestive tract. NPY also suppressed th...
Source: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular and integrative physiology. - Category: Physiology Authors: Source Type: research