PATTERNS OF FOOD INTAKE IN LABORATORY CAGED RABBITS

摘要

The present study indicates that food intake in caged rabbits under laboratory condition show a marked nocturnal rhythm, e.g. rabbits consume most of food at dark period. This pattern of feeding may be related to activity of the various brain neuro-chemical - neuroendocrine systems. The domestic rabbit belongs to the taxonomic order lagomorphae and is nocturnal (Suckowand Duglas, 1997). On the other hand, it is claimed that laboratory housed rabbits, exhibit diurnal patterns of behaviour (Jilge, 1991; Harcourt-Brown, 2002). Hence, the present study was planned to findout the effects of light-dark changes in food intake of caged laboratory rabbits.