Behavior and body weight changes under intermittent exposure to cold in C57BL/6J mice

This experiment examined effects of the intermittent exposure to cold. C57BL/6J mice were exposed to cold (4-5 degrees C) for six hours in light (L-cold group) or dark (D-cold group) period and their wheel-running and drinking activities, daily amounts of food and water intake, and body weight were analyzed. Wheel running and drinking decreased during cold exposure, while they increased in postcold period. These behavioral changes were more clearly found in the D-cold group. Body weight of the D-cold group was kept constant for all days of cold exposure, while that of the L-cold group tended to increase. These results are discussed from the view points of adaptive significance of postcold behaviors and the relationship between behavioral and physiological adaptations.