Effect of intermittent chronic exposure to hypoxia on feeding behaviour of rats

Int J Biometeorol. 1993 Dec;37(4):200-2. doi: 10.1007/BF01387523.

Abstract

Healthy albino male rats were exposed to a simulated high altitude (HA) equivalent to 25,000 ft (7620 m) for 6 h daily, continuously for 21 days to study the feeding behaviour. The 24-h food and water intake and body weight once in 3 days were recorded. Blood samples were drawn once a week from the retro-orbital venous plexus for blood sugar analysis. All the parameters were recorded before, during and after exposure to simulated HA. The results show a decrease in 24-h food and water intake and decreased gain in body weight during hypoxic exposure, which showed a tendency to come back to control during the post-exposure period. The blood sugar reflected a state of mild hyperglycaemia during exposure to HA.

MeSH terms

  • Altitude
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Weight
  • Drinking / physiology
  • Eating / physiology
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology*
  • Hypoxia / pathology
  • Hypoxia / physiopathology
  • Hypoxia / psychology*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Blood Glucose