Phenobarbital effects on weight gain and circadian cycling of food intake and body temperature
Rats fed a diet supplemented with phenobarbital at a concentration of 0.25% gained less weight than rats fed the unsupplemented diet. The reduced weight gain in the phenobarbital-treated rats accompanied the induction of marked hepatomegaly. Circadian cycling of food consumption in control rats followed a biphasic pattern, with the first feeding episode occurring during the middle of the 12-h dark phase and the second occurring as the dark phase ended. In rats on phenobarbital, eating activity was confined to the first feeding episode, with the level of intake during this interval increasing to compensate for the absence of significant subsequent feeding, so that the daily levels of food consumption were similar in both groups. Measurements of circadian cycling of deep body temperature showed that ingestion of 0.25% dietary phenobarbital approximately doubled the amplitude of the temperature cycle and advanced the time at which peak temperature was attained by aproximately 2 h. It is suggested that the lower weight gain in rats chronically exposed to 0.25% dietary phenobarbital results primarily from alterations in hepatic metabolism, but phenobarbital-mediated changes in the circadian cycling of food intake and deep-body temperature may also contribute to the growth reduction.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6564097
- Journal Information:
- Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States) Vol. 165:3; ISSN PSEBA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANESTHETICS
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
ANTICONVULSANTS
AZINES
BARBITURATES
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BODY TEMPERATURE
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
DAILY VARIATIONS
DIET
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DRUGS
FEEDING
GLANDS
GROWTH
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYPNOTICS AND SEDATIVES
INHIBITION
LIVER
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PHENOBARBITAL
PHYSIOLOGY
PYRIMIDINES
RATS
RODENTS
SENSITIVITY
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WEIGHT