Circadian rhythms of rabbits during restrictive feeding

Without a zeitgeber the circadian rhythms of five physiological functions free-ran with a period length greater than 24 h. Restricted feeding time (RF) masked the free-running rhythms. In addition to masking, entrainment with RF occurred. This process was most evident in locomotor activity and visits to the food box. RF thus had zeitgeber properties in these rabbits. However, in most rabbits the RF zeitgeber was not strong enough to entrain the circadian rhythm completely. A small component free-ran during RF. Following return to continuous food access the whole circadian rhythm resumed to free-run again. In some animals its phase was determined by the RF zeitgeber and in others by the small free-running fraction present during RF. The results suggest that in addition to the light-dark-entrainable circadian oscillator system a feeding-entrainable oscillator exists that takes over phase control of the majority of the rhythm during RF.