Self-starvation of rats living in activity wheels on a restricted feeding schedule.

Abstract

SS MAINTAINED ON 23-HR FOOD DEPRIVATION CYCLES WERE HOUSED IN ACTIVITY WHEELS (EXPERIMENTAL) OR STANDARD LABORATORY CAGES (CONTROL). EXPERIMENTAL SS WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN BODY WEIGHT AND DIET; DESPITE HIGH LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, EXPERIMENTAL SS ATE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN CONTROLS. INTERPOSING A 3-HR PERIOD BETWEEN RUNNING AND FEEDING, ADAPTING SS TO AREA OF FEEDING, OR ADMINISTERING PENTOBARBITAL (4 MG/KG) HAD LITTLE INFLUENCE ON THIS FOOD-INTAKE REDUCTION ("SELF-STARVATION"). CHLORPROMAZINE ADMINISTRATION (1 MG/KG) REDUCED ACTIVITY AND DID HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON SELF-STARVATION. HYPOTHALAMIC INVOLVEMENT IS DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO THERMO- AND GLUCOSTATIC THEORIES OF FEEDING AND A GENERAL EXCITABILITY FACTOR. (26 REF.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)