The behavioral satiety sequence in pigeons (Columba livia). Description and development of a method for quantitative analysis

Abstract

The postprandial event known as the specific dynamic action is an evolutionarily conserved physiological set of metabolic responses to feeding. Its behavioral counterpart, a sequence of drinking, maintenance (e.g., grooming) and sleep-like behaviors known as the behavioral satiety sequence (BSS), has been thoroughly described in rodents and has enabled the refined evaluation of potential appetite modifiers. However, the presence and attributes of a BSS have not been systematically studied in non-mammalian species. Here, we describe the BSS induced in pigeons (Columba livia) by 1) the presentation of a palatable seed mixture (SM) food to free-feeding animals (SM+FF condition) and 2) re-feeding after a 24-h fasting period (FD24h+SM), which was examined by continuous behavioral recording for 2h. We then compare these patterns to those observed in free-feeding (FF) animals. A set of graphic representations and indexes, drawn from these behaviors (latency, time-to-peak, inter-peak intervals and the first intersection between feeding curves and those of other BSS-typical behaviors) were used to describe the temporal structure and sequential relationships between the pigeon's BSS components. Cramér-von Mises-based statistical procedures and bootstrapping-based methods to compare pairs of complex behavioral curves were described and used for comparisons among the behavioral profiles during the free-feeding recordings and after fasting- and SM-induced BSS. FD24h+SM- and SM+FF-induced feeding were consistently followed by a similar sequence of increased bouts of drinking, followed by preening and then sleep, which were significantly different from that of FF birds. The sequential and temporal patterns of the pigeon's BSS were not affected by differences in food intake or by dissimilarity in motivational content of feeding stimuli. The present data indicated that a BSS pattern can be reliably evoked in the pigeon, in a chronological succession and sequence that strongly resembled that observed in rodents and primates. This pattern can be quantitatively described and compared using different suitable and coordinated behavioral measures, enabling further studies on the comparative and evolutionary aspects of the mechanisms that shape the post-consummatory behavioral flux in amniotes.

Distribution of serotonin 5-HT 1A -binding sites in the brainstem and the hypothalamus, and their roles in 5-HT-induced sleep and ingestive behaviors in rock pigeons ( Columba livia )

“…Postprandial states in both mammals [1][2][3] and birds [4][5][6] are characterized by an increased incidence of grooming, drinking and resting. These behaviors, which occur in a relatively fixed temporal setting, constitute the so-called behavioral satiety sequence (BSS) in both classes of vertebrates.…”

“…Increased activity of 5-HT circuits exerts suppressive effects on food and water intake in mammals (e.g., [7]) and in pigeons [8][9][10]. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of 5-HT in pigeons [9,[11][12][13] evoked a sequence of hypophagia, drinking and sleep that parallels the BSS in pigeons [6]. On the other hand, increased feeding was observed in free-feeding pigeons after intra-hypothalamic and intra-amygdalar injection of a 5-HT 1/2 receptor antagonist or intra-raphe injection of 8-OH-DPAT (DPAT; a 5-HT 1A/7 receptor agonist) [14], indicating that5-HT afferents exert tonic inhibitory control on feeding-related prosencephalic circuits in free-feeding pigeons, similar to the findings in mammals.…”

Stress-induced core temperature changes in pigeons (Columba livia)

“…We failed to find any systematic studies on the acute thermal responses of pigeons to stress. In the course of a study on the thermal correlates of feeding and the subsequent behavioral satiety sequence in rock pigeons [24], the limitations of our experimental setup forced us to transfer the pigeons to a separate cage from their home cage to perform telemetric recordings of Tc and actimetry during prolonged feeding episodes. This procedure caused a short-lived hyperthermia that was followed by a deep and long-lasting hypothermic response, suggesting that this thermal response may be a relevant physiological marker of stress in this species; this phenomenon may affect the results of neurobehavioral studies involving early drug-or manipulation-induced responses in this species.…”

Behavioral, hepato-morphological, and biochemical studies on the possible protective effect of black seed and water bath against change-mediated heat stress on pigeon

“…1. Pre-experimental period: It lasted for 30 days of spring season from 23 April 2017 till 22 May 2017 and was divided into two parts; 10 days for adaptation of the birds to the lab conditions and also for pair formation, and 20 days to ensure pigeon production and reproduction ability and normal behavior in the experimental lab conditions according to (Spudeit et al, 2013).…”

“…In order to face the negative effects of heat stress and combat these stressful conditions, lowering physiological responses to stress conditions and alarming different forms of environmental enrichment as water baths in layer Pigeons were maintained indoors (Spudeit et al, 2013) under natural day light (12-h light, 12-h dark diurnal cycle) and exposed to surrounding environmental temperature.…”