Abstract: Feed intake is highly relevant to the growth performance of pig. The improvement of feed intake is considered to be an important contributor to the increase of pig production. The appetite and intake behavior of pig are regulated by various central and peripheral factors,including feeding technique,living circumstance,chemo-factors and metabolic-factors. Hypothalamus plays a key role in integrating all these signals so as to regulate feed intake. Researches on intake signaling have achieved great improvement,owing to the implication of molecular methods,numerous signaling factors involved in the intake-net have been reported,among which AMPK,mTOR and Leptin have been most attractive to researchers in this area. The present paper summarized the factors influencing feed intake as well as the key role of hypothalamus in regulating feed intake,and probed molecular mechanism of feed intake. Questions involved and research direction were raised and discussed.

Key words: feed intake; AMPK; mTOR; Leptin; pig