Abstract
Summary
Hypophysectomy alters the normal diurnal feeding patterns of rats but on the average the hypophysectomized rats still consume the greatest percentage of their food during the dark phase. Compared to controls, hypophysectomized rats eat a similiar number of meals each day, however, the amount of food consumed and the duration of the meals are reduced. The pituitary gland seems to be one of the factors involved in sustaining the natural diurnal feeding rhythm in rats.
The authors wish to thank Drs. Roger and Leung for the use of the food intake monitors, and we express our appreciation for the expert technical assistance of C. M. Friend, and to S. Turley for typing the manuscript.
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