Food Restriction Affects Locomotor Activity in Mongolian Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Authors : Alper KARAKAŞ, Erdinç SERİN, Bülent GÜNDÜZ

Pages : 23-28

View : 15 | Download : 4

Publication Date : 2006-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The circadian rhythm of the locomotor activity is regulated by at least 2 external pacemakers, environmental photoperiod and food availability. In the present study, the effects of short-term insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2 weeks); food restriction on locomotor activity rhythm in adult male and female Mongolian gerbils were investigated. Animals were fed ad libitum with no restriction during the first week of the experiment and their daily ad libitum food consumptions were determined. Then the food was restricted 40% of ad libitum for the next 2 weeks. At constant temperature, locomotor activity was monitored by running wheel in animals exposed to a long photoperiod insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(14L); for 3 weeks. A significant phase advance was recorded in the locomotor activity rhythm in both male and female animals. The shift was bigger in males insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(12 ± 1.1 h); than in females insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(6 ± 0.5 h); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.05);. Activity levels and body weights decreased in males insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.01); and females insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.012); compared with the first week values. The gerbils` locomotor activity was significantly affected by the food restriction. These results indicate that the rhythm and the level of the locomotor activity in the Mongolian gerbil can be entrained by food restriction.
Keywords : Rhythm, Food restriction, Locomotor activity, Mongolian gerbil