Effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of antimicrobial peptide expressed in the body-2 (LEAP-2) and its interaction with cannabinoid and ghrelin systems on food intake in broiler chickens.
This study investigated the central effects of Liver-Expressed Antimicrobial Peptide 2 (LEAP-2) on food intake in broiler chickens, and explored its potential interactions with the ghrelin and cannabinoid systems. Four separate experiments were conducted, each with four groups of neonatal broiler chickens receiving intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections. Experiment 1 tested LEAP-2 alone at three doses; Experiments 2–4 tested LEAP-2 in combination with a ghrelin receptor antagonist (D-Lys-3)-GHRP-6, a CB1 receptor antagonist (SR141716A), and a CB2 receptor antagonist (AM630), respectively. Food consumption was measured at 30, 60, and 120 minutes post-injection. The study reported that ICV LEAP-2 at the two higher doses significantly reduced cumulative food intake compared to saline controls. The interaction experiments suggested that LEAP-2's appetite-suppressing effects may involve both CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors as well as the ghrelin receptor system. Key limitations include the exclusive use of an avian (broiler chicken) model, small experimental group sizes, a single-species focus, and the lack of direct mechanistic or molecular data. Findings cannot be directly extrapolated to humans or mammals without further research.
Why this grade: All experiments were conducted exclusively in neonatal broiler chickens using ICV injection, with no human or mammalian data, providing no direct evidence for effects in humans.
Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP-2), initially identified as an antimicrobial peptide which endocannabinoid and ghrelin action may occur via changes in Leap2 expression. This study aimed to determine effect of ICV injection of LEAP2and its interaction with cannabinoid and ghrelin systems on food intake in broiler chickens. In the present study 4 experiments were conducted, each containing 4 experimental groups. In experiment 1, chicken injected with group 1 ICV injection of saline, group 2 with LEAP2 (0.75 nmol), group 3 with LEAP2 (1.5 nmol) and group 4 with LEAP2 (3 nmol). In experiment 2, chicken received ICV injections as group 1: saline, group 2: (D-Lys-3)-GHRP-6 (0.5 nmol), group 3: LEAP2 (3 nmol) and group 4 with co injection of the (D-Lys-3)-GHRP-6 + LEAP2. In experiment 3 chiken received ICV inejctions as: group 1: saline, group 2: SR141716A (6.25 µg), group 3: LEAP2 (3 nmol) and group 4 with co injection of the SR141716A + LEAP2. In experiment 4 chiken received ICV inejctions as: group 1: saline, group 2: AM630 (1.25 µg), group 3: LEAP2 (3 nmol) and group 4 with co injection of the AM630 + LEAP2. Immediately following the infusions, the broilers were returned to their respective boxes, where they were provided with pre-weighed meal and fresh water ad libitum. The cumulative meal consumption was subsequently measured at intervals of 30, 60, and 120 min post-administration. According to the results, ICV injection of the LEAP2 (1.5 and 3 nmol) significantly decreased food intake (P 1 and CB 2 receptors in neonatal chicken.
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