Behavioural effects of short-term total food restriction in rats

Abstract

© 2014 University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All rights reserved. Reducing food intake can decrease anxiety indices in rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of short-term (48 hours) total food restriction on the behavioural characteristics, the motor coordination and balance, of rats. Th ree-month-old male Wistar albino rats (n=20) weighing 350-400 g were divided into a control group (food and water intake ad libitum) and an experimental group (total food restriction 48 hours before testing). Behavioural studies were performed using the open field, elevated plus maze, Barnes maze, beam walking, evoked beam walking and linear locomotor tests. The total distance moved, the velocity, the movement and the frequency in the centre zone of the open field were significantly higher in the treated group. The cumulative duration in the centre zone of the open field did not significantly increase in the treated group. The number of entries into the open arms, the total time spent in the open arms and the total distance moved in the elevated plus maze significantly increased with no change in the velocity in the food-restricted animals. The 48 hours of total food restriction did not aff ect the Barnes maze test parameters or the parameters of the linear locomotor test. The velocity recorded during the beam walking test was not aff ected by the food restriction, but the velocity recorded during the evoked beam walking test significantly decreased in the treated group. In summary, short-term total food restriction did not produce significant changes in the physical performance of rats but did result in anxiolytic- like behaviour accompanied by food-seeking behaviour due to enhanced motivation to forage for food.