Multivariate analysis of meal patterning in intact and vagotomized rabbits

Meal patterns of female rabbits were measured throughout a 12:12 hr light/dark cycle and subjected to a multivariate-univariate analysis. Increased food intake occurring during the first 6 hr of dark was attributed to increased meal frequency and feeding rate, while that found during the last 6 hr of dark was attributed to increased meal duration and meal size. Meal patterning was also nonhomogeneous between the 6-hr periods in the light portion of the cycle. Experiment 2 demonstrated the times of day when feeding patterns of vagotomized animals are different from those of intact animals and, further, delineated the relevant variables that are altered by vagotomy. Immediately following light offset, vagotomized animals were distinguished from intact animals by sloer feeding rate and decreased food intake. Immediately following light onset, vagotomized animals were distinguished from intact animals by decreased feeding frequency, increased meal duration, and increased satiety ratio. During the 6 hr immediately preceding light onset or offset, none of the variables could discriminate the feeding patterns of intact animals from those of vagotomized animals.