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Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Manipulation of Rhythmic Food Intake in Mice Using a Custom-Made Feeding System
Published on: December 16, 2022
Sequential feeding alters hepatic circadian rhythm gene expression and lipid levels in septic mice
Bo Yao1,2, Yi-Jing Song3, Wen-Jun Chen3
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of sequential feeding on lipid metabolism in a murine sepsis model.
Methods:
Septic mice were randomly assigned to a continuous or sequential feeding group. In the continuous group, mice were fed ad libitum day and night via using an automatic feeder. In the sequential group, mice received continuous feeding for the first 5 days, followed by physiological feeding starting on Day 6. Physiological feeding was limited to 20:00-08:00 to match the nocturnal feeding pattern of mice. On Day 14, blood samples were collected at 08:00 and 20:00 to measure serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Liver tissues were collected at 20:00 for transcriptomic analysis and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and at both time points for circadian rhythm gene analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array.
Results:
In the sequential group, serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels were significantly lower at 20:00 than at 08:00; no such differences were observed in the continuous group. H&E staining revealed extensive hepatocellular steatosis in the continuous group. Four hundred and sixty one differentially expressed genes were identified between the two groups, with circadian rhythm as the most enriched pathway. PCR array revealed 14 differentially expressed circadian-related genes and transcriptional regulators between 08:00 and 20:00 in the sequential group, compared with only four in the continuous group.
Conclusion:
Sequential feeding modulates serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in septic mice and preserves differential expression of some hepatic circadian rhythm-related genes at 08:00 and 20:00. However, continuous feeding attenuates the differential expression of these genes and is associated with severe hepatocellular steatosis.
