Influence of ketone body and the inhibition of fatty acid oxidation on thefood intake of the chick

1. Fatty acid oxidation is known to be involved in the control of food inta ke in mammals. The effect of fatty acid oxidation on food intake in chicken s was studied using a ketone body (beta -hydroxybutyrate (beta -HB)) and me rcaptoacetate (MA) (an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation). 2. Central and peripheral injection of beta -HB decreased food intake in a dose-dependent manner, while low doses of MA had no effect. Higher doses of MA inhibited feeding but also caused mortality. 3. These results indicate that ketone bodies act as an inhibitory signal fo r food intake in both the central and peripheral nervous systems but that i nhibition of fatty acid oxidation may not be associated with feeding behavi our in chicks.