Effect of (Alpha)-Methyl-P-Tyrosine on Food Intake, Food Passage Rate and in Vivo Nutrient Uptake From Small Intestine in Chicken (Gallus Domesticus)

The study was designed to overcome the deleterious effect left by catecholamines through dietary supplementation of Alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (Alpha-MPT) (catecholamines synthesis inhibitor) on food intake, food passage time and uptake of nutrients in the alimentary tract of chicken. 10-week-old healthy white leghorn (male) birds were used in this study. The first group of birds (n = 6) was fed with grower ration fortified with the inhibitor (25 mg/100 g feed) for five consecutive days under standard individual cage system. Similarly, another group of birds was kept as control and reared on normal diet. The average daily food intake, food passage rate and in vivo absorption of nutrients were determined following standard procedures. The calcium, phosphorus and glucose were estimated in the blood samples from the appropriate mesenteries on laparotomy (just before infusion of nutrients) at 0, 15, 30 and 45 min post-infusion of ligating the ends of specific segments of small intestine. Treated group significantly (P < 0.05) improved the food intake and sustained food passage rate. The levels of calcium and phosphorus at zero-timing remained significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the treated group as compared to the control group and reverse was true in case of glucose. Calcium uptake levels of treated group was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of the control group at 30 min post-infusion. On the contrary, phosphorus uptake levels of treated group was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the control group at 30 min post-infusion. Glucose levels of the treated group sustained significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the control group through out the experimental duration. It is concluded that catecholamine synthesis inhibitor at the present dose levels markedly stimulates feed intake, elevates calcium uptake and lowers glucose level