• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.221-232
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of deficiency of essential amino acid in diet on feed intake and concentrations of free amino acid in plasma and brain(prepyriform cortex, PPC), and thereby to know the brain area engaged in the mechanism of feed intake regulation. In all trials, experimental diets were formulated with pure amino acid mixture to level of 15% nitrogen. Rats were trained to eat a single meal for 6 hours daily(meal feeding, 17:00-21:00). Feed intake and body weight were measured hourly on and after 7th day of feeding. In Exp. 1, feed intake and body weight were measured every hour, and the free amino acid concentrations of plasma and PPC were analysed at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 6 h on the 11th day of feeding. In Exp. 2, the complete diet was replaced with lysine devoid diet at the 11th day, and feed intake, body weight and free amino acid concentrations in plasma and PPC were samely measured on Exp. 1. In Exp. 1, feed intake on complete diet was self-sufficiented to daily feed intake level(15g/day) from the 7th day. Free amino acid concentrations of plasma and PPC at the 11th day were plateau at 1 hour after feeding. In Exp. 2, feed intake was quickly reduced by the diet replacement(P$<$0.05), and the free lysine concentration of plasma and PPC was also significantly decreased at 2 hour after feeding. However, cumulative feed intake was significantly decreased at 4 hour after feeding. These results may indicate that the concentrations of free lysine in plasma and PPC, under the condition of devoided lysine in diet, were more quickly droped than the reduction of feed intake rate. Hence, it is expected that PPC in brain might be a part of response area for limited amino acid.