Project Number: 1265-31000-095-02
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: May 15, 2007
End Date: Feb 28, 2010

Objective:
The specific objectives of this project are: 1) To determine the effects of selection of chickens for high and low body weight on the function and expression of specific genes regulating feed intake and energy balance, 2) To determine the relationship between high and low body weight phenotypes and the expression of genes encoding AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and 3) To determine if selection for body weight has altered the brain's response to selected neurotransmitters, and to determine if such differences are due to a differential affect on the brain AMPK system.

Approach:
We will be testing the hypothesis that genetic selection for body weight results in changes in brain, and possibly peripheral, neurotransmitter and growth factor levels. Using a unique genetic line of birds that have been selected for over 45 generations for either high or low 8-week body weight, we will investigate how such selections have altered the brain mechanisms controlling food intake.