The Effects of Dopamine and Glutamate Agonists on Brain Histology and Food Intake of Quails Exposed to Environmental Heat Stress

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of apomorphine (dopamine agonist) and glutamate on quails exposed to environmental heat stress. Thirty two male Japanese quails were randomly divided into four groups. Control quails maintained at 25-27 °C temperature while heat stressed quails exposed to outdoor temperature ranging from 25 to 41.7 °C for four days. Heat stressed quails were received saline, apomorphine (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal ly) or glutamate (2mg/kg, intraperitoneal ly). After two days food intake were recorded and then birds were euthanized to perform histopathological investigations. The cumulative food intake was significantly reduced in heat stressed quails, especially in the glutamate treated quails. The brain histopathological changes were even more severe in the heat treated group.Treatment with apomorphine could reduce the adverse effects of heat stress on brain. These results showed the protective effects of apomorphine on heat stress-induced anorexia in quails.