Effect of Hypophysectomy, Thyroidectomy, Castration and Adrenalectomy on Diurnal Food and Water Intake in Rats

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Abstract
Hypophysectomy altered but did not abolish the rats'' normal diurnal feeding rhythm. The diurnal ingestive rhythm of castrated male rats was comparable to the shams. Adrenalectomy did not attenuate the normal diurnal feeding rhythm but slightly depressed the normal water intake rhythm. Thyroidectomy in a magnitude comparable to hypophysectomy modified the animals'' feeding rhythm. While thyroidectomy also altered the diurnal water intake, it did so to a lesser degree than hypophysectomy. Thyroid secretions may be partially responsible for the maintenance of the diurnal feeding rhythm and to a lesser extent, the diurnal water intake rhythm in rats.