CCK is involved in both peripheral and central mechanisms controlling food intake in chickens.

The aim of this work was to study the involvement of cholecystokinin (CCK) in the control of food intake in chickens. The following aspects were studied: 1) the effects of intravenous and intracerebroventricular sulfated octapeptide of CCK (CCK-8s) on voluntary food intake; 2) the effects of two CCK-receptor antagonists. L-365,260 and L-364,718, on food intake; and 3) the ability of such drugs to block the effects of CCK-8s on food intake in the chicken. Intravenous and intracerebroventricular CCK-8s caused a decrease in food intake. Intraperitoneal L-365,260, a CCK-receptor antagonist with low affinity for the two CCK receptors described in the chicken, increases food intake. Intracerebroventricular L-364,718, a drug that has high affinity for the chicken central CCK-receptor type, increased food intake. The effect of intravenous CCK-8s on food intake was not blocked by L-364,718 or L-365,260, whereas that of intracerebroventricular CCK-8s was blocked by intracerebroventricular L-364,718. It is concluded that central endogenous CCK plays a role in the control of food intake, which is dependent on central CCK-receptor type; nevertheless, peripheral CCK also decreases food intake acting on the peripheral CCK-receptor type. The fact that intracerebroventricular L-364,718 is able to increase food intake is related to its high affinity for the central CCK-receptor type of this species. Finally, three different speculations that might explain the fact that intraperitoneal L-365,260 increases food intake are discussed.