Circadian rhythms and food anticipatory behavior in Wfs1-deficient mice.
The dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) has been proposed as a candidate for the neural substrate of a food-entrainable oscillator. The existence of a food-entrainable oscillator in the mammalian nervous system was inferred previously from restricted feeding-induced behavioral rhythmicity in rodents with suprachiasmatic nucleus lesions. In the present study, we have characterized the circadian rhythmicity of behavior in Wfs1-deficient mice during ad libitum and restricted feeding. Based on the expression of Wfs1 protein in the DMH it was hypothesized that Wfs1-deficient mice will display reduced or otherwise altered food anticipatory activity. Wfs1 immunoreactivity in DMH was found almost exclusively in the compact part. Restricted feeding induced c-Fos immunoreactivity primarily in the ventral and lateral aspects of DMH and it was similar in both genotypes. Wfs1-deficiency resulted in significantly lower body weight and reduced wheel-running activity. Circadian rhythmicity of behavior was normal in Wfs1-deficient mice under ad libitum feeding apart from elongated free-running period in constant light. The amount of food anticipatory activity induced by restricted feeding was not significantly different between the genotypes. Present results indicate that the effects of Wfs1-deficiency on behavioral rhythmicity are subtle suggesting that Wfs1 is not a major player in the neural networks responsible for circadian rhythmicity of behavior.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. hendrik.luuk@gmail.com
Hendrik
H
Luuk
Jan
J
Fahrenkrug
Jens
J
Hannibal
D000818:Animals; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; C114987:wolframin protein