Thermal Behavior of the Rat Before and After Feeding

Abstract

Male albino rats, exposed to low ambient temperatures for 1 hr. a day, were trained to depress a response bar to obtain heat. The heat remained on as long as the bar was depressed. These animals were then placed on a 22 hr. food-deprivation schedule. One group was fed 2 hr. immediately before a 1-hour cold session and the other group for 2 hr. following it. The group fed 2 hr. after the test pressed for significantly more heat than the group fed before the test. When the feeding times for groups were reversed the same results were obtained. It was concluded that, in the rat, regulation of environmental temperature is a function of time of feeding.