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Updated: May 27, 2026

Manipulation of Rhythmic Food Intake in Mice Using a Custom-Made Feeding System
Published on: December 16, 2022
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) activation advances locomotor activity and feeding daily rhythms
1Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
Abstract:
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are key mediators of energy homeostasis, and lipid and glucose metabolism that exhibit circadian expression. PPAR activating drugs are used clinically as lipid and glucose-lowering drugs. We evaluated the effect of long-term (11 weeks) PPARα and PPARγ activation using bezafibrate and rosiglitazone, respectively, on metabolism, locomotor activity and feeding rhythms of non-obese mice. We found that bezafibrate, but not rosiglitazone, led to no weight gain and a slight weight loss with reduced epididymal fat pads. Although rosiglitazone had a minor effect on 24-h food intake rhythm, bezafibrate treatment was accompanied by increased amplitude and an advanced acrophase of the 24-h feeding rhythm. Similarly, unlike rosiglitazone, bezafibrate treatment was accompanied by a significantly advanced acrophase of locomotor activity rhythm under constant darkness conditions. As disrupted circadian rhythms lead to obesity, PPARα activation can serve as a clinical target for the modulation of both circadian rhythms and metabolism.
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