Fig. 1.

Analysis of locomotor activity of animals maintained under two experimental protocols of reversed restricted feeding (rRF). Rats maintained in 12 h light:12 h dark cycle were fed ad libitum and, thereafter, they were exposed to reversed restricted feeding protocol lasting for either 10 days (rRF10; n = 35) or 20 days (rRF20; n = 35). For more details, see “Materials and methods” section a Representative activity records (double-plotted actograms) of one rat from each experimental group are depicted. The dark phase of the LD cycle is shaded and the interval when food was provided under each of the rRF regimes is depicted by colored dashed rectangles. The activity records were analyzed under ad libitum conditions and in 5-day intervals throughout rRF protocols. b Total activity. c Dark/light activity ratio (ratio between activity during the dark and light phases of the LD cycle). d Activity during presence of food. e Anticipatory activity measured during 2 h before the food presence. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001 vs. ad libitum; #P < 0.05; ##P < 0.01; ####P < 0.0001 vs. RF1-5. f Changes in body weight throughout rRF20 protocol. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001