Wheel access duration in rats: I. Effects on feeding and running.
The effects of 0-, 2-, and 24-hr wheel access on the pattern of running, feeding, and weight were explored over 24 days in 3 groups of 8 male rats. Both 2 and 24 hr of wheel access suppressed feeding by about 15% for about 8 days before feeding gradually returned to normal. Weight in these 2 groups was similar and was suppressed for the 24 days. Like the pattern seen with drug self-administration (S. H. Ahmed & G. F. Koob, 1998, 1999), running levels stayed low with short, 2-hr daytime wheel access, but with long, 24-hr access, rats' running escalated over days to chronically high levels. These results may have relevance for the understanding of addiction and anorexia nervosa.
Lattanzio
Sara B
SB
Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Eikelboom
Roelof
R
D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology