Comparison of synchronization of circadian corticosteroid rhythms by photoperiod and food.

Under conditions of feeding at will and normal light-dark alternation, rats consume the major portion of their daily food intake during the dark period and the circadian peak of plasma corticosteroid concentrations and of body temperature levels occurs just prior to or subsequent to the time of light-dark transition. Both light-dark transition and time of food presentation have been implicated as "Zeitgebers" in determining the phase of these two circadian rhythms. THE PRESENT DATA INDICATE THE FOLLOWING: (i) The time of food presentation appears to be a more potent synchronizer of the phase of plasma corticosteroid levels than is the light-dark cycle. This has been demonstrated in rats under conditions in which light-dark phase shift has been dissociated from a concomitant shift of time of eating. In contrast, under such conditions, the rhythm of body temperature appears to be more tightly coupled to the light-dark cycle. This illustrates that the time of food ingestion and the peak of body temperature rhythms can be uncoupled and that the phasing effects of restricted food ingestion on corticosteroid rhythms does not extend to body temperature rhythms. It also suggests the presence of different control mechanisms and/or pathways for corticosteroid and body temperature rhythms as well as the use of different pathways by different Zeitgebers. (ii) Rats maintained in constant dim light with free access to food exhibit aperiodic feeding behavior; plasma corticosteroid concentrations and body temperature levels are also aperiodic. Imposition of a restricted period of food access under such constant light conditions is associated with the appearance of a circadian periodicity of both plasma corticosteroid concentrations and body temperature levels, with peaks, respectively, just before and after the time of food presentation. This represents an additional example of food entrainment of previously aperiodic functions, similar to the food entrainment we have described in animals rendered aperiodic by lesions of the suprachiasmatic nucleus.