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Ghrelin Stimulates Milk Intake by Affecting Adult Type Feeding Behaviour in Postnatal Rats
Author(s) -
Piao H.,
Hosoda H.,
Kangawa K.,
Murata T.,
Narita K.,
Higuchi T.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2007.01644.x
Subject(s) - ghrelin , endocrinology , medicine , body weight , weight gain , biology , food intake , lactation , feeding behavior , hormone , pregnancy , genetics
The influence of ghrelin on feeding behaviour during infancy is unknown. To determine whether ghrelin influences milk intake in rat pups, newborn rats received a single i.p. injection of either rat ghrelin (100 μg/kg) or rabbit anti‐ghrelin immunoglobulin G (100 μg/kg) every 5 days from postpartum day 5 to day 30 (P5–P30). Milk intake was then assessed by body weight gain following a 2‐h suckling period. Ghrelin significantly increased weight gain relative to vehicle‐injected controls in P20, P25 and P30 pups, but not in younger animals. Similarly, after 8 h of milk restriction, anti‐ghrelin injections significantly decreased weight gain in P25 and P30, but not in younger pups. Interestingly, however, ghrelin did increase independent feeding in P10 and P15 pups using a paradigm in which pups consumed milk from a milk‐soaked paper towel. We therefore conclude that ghrelin stimulates milk intake at an early postnatal stage, primarily by affecting adult‐type feeding behaviour.