Meal patterning in the lactating rat

The present study was undertaken to investigate feeding behaviour of the lactating rat over the day-night cycle. Food intake was recorded continuously in six pregnant and subsequently lactating female rats with 10 pups each. Although there was a twofold increase of food intake during the first post partum week, the meal frequency did not increase above the level of previous weeks. Only the mean meal size increased. After this week food intake increased to three times the normal intake, meal size did not change but meal frequency increased in favour of daytime meals. It is suggested that with moderate caloric demands food intake regulation in the rat occurs through changes in meal size. With higher energy requirements, however, meal frequency is also affected. The possible causal factors involved in the change in feeding are discussed.