Central regulation of food intake in mammals and birds: a review

Appetite regulates by a complex system of central and peripheral signals which interact in order to modulate ingestion response. A number of peptides comprise a complex network that regulates feeding behavior in vertebrates. This review is focused on the main neurotransmitters and peptides that influence feeding responses in mammals and birds. On the basis of literature review, there are several evidences that neurotransmitters have different effects on food intake between mammals and birds. Also, central regulation of food intake regulates via different mechanisms in animals. So, the aim of this review was to investigate comparative food-intake regulation mechanisms in mammals and birds.