Effects of restricted feeding on single neuron activity of suprachiasmatic neurons in rat hypothalamic slice preparation.

Influence of restricted feeding on single neuron activity in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) was examined using hypothalamic slice preparations. Feeding restriction for one month did not change SCN neuron activity in either normal light-dark schedule (LD) or constant light schedule (LL). Locomotor activity in vivo was increased for a few hours before and during feeding time by food restriction of both LD and LL rats. The present experiment suggested that the memory of feeding time produced by food restriction is independent of SCN neuron activity.