Effect of Meal-feeding on the Daily Variations of Insulin, Glucose, and NADP-linked Dehydrogenases in Rats

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Abstract
Normal and adrenalectomized rats were either ad libitum fed or meal-fed a 66.5% glucose diet for 1 to 3 weeks. Ad libitum-fed rats exhibited synchronized daily rhythms in the levels of immunoreactive insulin, glucose, hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and malic enzyme activities. These rhythms were shifted and altered with respect to the peaks and nadirs when feeding was restricted to one late-morning 2-hour feeding period. The rhythms of adrenalectomized ad libitum-fed rats were different from those for nonadrenalectomized rats. These results indicate that differences between ad libitum- and meal-fed animals may be attributable to the timing of food intake with respect to the timing of observation rather than to meal-feeding alone. It is further concluded that the adrenals play a role in the maintenance of these rhythms.