Food Intake and Temperature Response to Injections of Catecholamines into the Lateral Ventricle of the Turkey Brain

The effects of dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine on food intake, water intake, and colonic body temperature (Tc) were investigated in adult Medium White turkey hens. Solutions containing dopamine, L-norepinephrine, or L-epinephrine were prepared in concentrations of 0, 33, and 67 micrograms/10 microliters in artificial cerebrospinal fluid and injected into the lateral cerebral ventricles. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine significantly decreased Tc. Food intake was significantly decreased by norepinephrine and epinephrine whereas dopamine had no effect. These results suggest that brain catecholamines are involved in the neural control of food intake and body temperature of turkeys.