Interaction of corticotropin-releasing factor and glucagon-like peptide-1 on behaviors in chicks

Both corticortropin-releasing factor (CRF) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) inhibit food intake of chicks, but they also produce other behaviors. The present experiments were undertaken to clarify the interaction of CRF and GLP-1 regarding their anorectic actions as well as other behaviors. In Experiment 1, birds were injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.), following a 3-h fast, with either saline, 0.1 μg of CRF, 0.1 μg of CRF + 0.1 μg of GLP-1 or 0.1 μg of CRF + 1 μg of GLP-1, and food intake was measured for 2 h. The injection of CRF decreased food intake, and CRF injected with GLP-1 suppressed food intake for up to 2 h. Birds were treated similarly in Experiment 2 in which the doses of CRF and GLP-1 were reversed. GLP-1 strongly suppressed food intake, and this effect was augmented by coadministration of CRF. In Experiment 3, the behaviors of chicks injected with saline, CRF (0.1 μg), GLP-1 (0.1 μg) or CRF (0.1 μg) + GLP-1 (0.1 μg) were monitored for the numbers of steps, vocalization and locomotion. Chicks were excited, moved more and vocalized loudly following injection of CRF, whereas an opposite response was seen with GLP-1. The behaviors were intermediate following the coinjection of the two peptides. In conclusion, CRF and GLP-1 interact in the chick brain, but the response depends on the behavior being measured.