A new article published in Scientific Reports explores how Neuropeptide F (NPF) acts as a central survival signal in invertebrates. NPF strongly influences feeding behavior, energy storage, and stress tolerance. When they rise, feeding motivation increases, metabolic balance improves, and the organism becomes better prepared to handle nutrient stress.
Vertebrates (e.g., most fish) have a very similar molecule called Neuropeptide Y (NPY). Even though they both exist in different groups of animals, the functions are similar. Scientists believe they come from an ancient biological system designed to help animals survive scarcity and environmental challenges.
Both NPF and NPY respond naturally to changes in diet, energy levels, and the environment. Short‑term fasting is one of the strongest natural stimulators. Low blood sugar also triggers these peptides. In insects, a drop in trehalose activates NPF, while in vertebrates, falling glucose levels stimulate NPY.
Diet composition plays an important role. High‑protein diets can increase NPY activity, while protein deficiency in invertebrates often boosts NPF to encourage food searching. Amino acids – leucine, arginine, and glutamic acid, affect NPY pathways. Omega‑3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA also support NPY expression and help stabilize feeding behavior.
Mild stress, temperature changes, or crowding also increase NPY as a way to calm the body. In invertebrates, similar stressors boost NPF to support survival behavior. Even sensory experiences such as pleasant taste, feed aroma, or palatable ingredients can stimulate both peptides. This explains why attractants like krill meal, fish hydrolysates, garlic extract, and yeast derivatives often improve feed intake in aquaculture species.
For aquaculture nutrition and feed development, these insights are extremely valuable. They show that feeding behavior is not controlled only by diet quality but also shaped by internal hormonal signals like NPF and NPY. When animals are stressed or exposed to sudden environmental changes, these neuropeptides shift, and feeding behavior changes with them.
Understanding these pathways helps explain why some feeds increase appetite, why stressed animals stop eating, and why certain functional ingredients improve feeding motivation and growth. In the future, feed strategies may be designed specifically to support or modulate NPF–NPY pathways to improve resilience and performance in cultured species. Albert Tacon International Aquafeed U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) Aquafeed.com Alltech Kemin AquaScience™ Lallemand Phileo by Lesaffre | Pet Care Novonesis Kabir Chowdhury Wittaya Aqua Jorge Galindo-Villegas ICC Animal Nutrition | Brasil
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