Effects of variable intervals between periods of deprivation on the consumption post-deprivation of water and food in rats

Abstract

Four couples of rats repeatedly were exposed during three days to one of four deprivation schedules: (a) water or food partial deprivation (12hs per day) or, (b) water or food total deprivation (72 hours). After each deprivation, water and food were freely available along a variable number of days (i.e., 5, 30, 15, and 15). During the whole experiment the body weight and the consumption of water and food was recorded. Results suggest that the alterations on the body weight and the consumption of water and food during the free access of water and food periods occurred when the intervals between the periods of deprivation were variable.