Galanin and β-endorphin as feeding regulators in cyprinids: effect of temperature

The effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) and intraperitoneal (IP) administration of galanin and β-endorphin on food intake have been studied in satiated tench held at 21 ± 2 °C. Food intake was evaluated at 0–2 h and 2–8 h after injection. The same treatments were carried out in tench and goldfish acclimated to 10 ± 1 °C. Central administration of either galanin or β-endorphin significantly increased food intake at 2 h and 8 h after injection in tench acclimated to 21 ± 2 °C, but no change in feeding was observed after IP treatments. Low temperature (10 °C) significantly reduced food intake in both tench and goldfish, and neither central nor peripheral administration of galanin or β-endorphin was found to modify feeding. The results indicate that galanin and opioids play a role in the central regulation of feeding in tench, but the stimulatory effect of these neuropeptides did not reverse the feeding inhibition produced by exposure to low temperature.