Modifications of local cerebral glucose utilization during circadian food-anticipatory activity.

Food-anticipatory activity that animals express before a daily timed meal is considered as the behavioral output of a feeding-entrainable oscillator whose functional neuroanatomy is still unknown. In order to identify the possible brain areas involved in that timing mechanism, we investigated local cerebral metabolic rate for glucose during food-anticipatory activity produced either by a 4-h daily access to food starting 4 h after light onset or by a hypocaloric feeding provided at the same time. Local cerebral metabolic rate for glucose measured by the labeled 2-[(14)C]-deoxyglucose technique was quantified in 40 structures.

Combined effects of high-fat feeding and circadian desynchronization.

Objective: To assess whether circadian desynchronization leads to metabolic alterations capable of promoting dietary obesity and/or impairing glucose tolerance.

Design: Rats fed either with chow pellets (i.e.