Biomaterial Database

Changes in patterns of feeding activity, parotid secretory enzymes and plasma corticosterone in developing rats. 1976

R S Redman, and L M Sreebny

The diet and feeding patterns of developing rats were determined from feed bin weight losses and analysis of stomach contents (details in a previous report). Parotid gland development in the same rats was assessed from the specific activities of the secretory enzymes alpha-amylase, RNase and DNase, with particular attention to the occurrence of circadian variations. The results indicate that during the first week post partum, rats suckle much more by day than by night but have no circadian cycles in their parotid glands. Between 10 and 20 days, there were no consistent cycles either in feeding activity or in parotid enzymes. The progressive change from milk to stock diet between 14 and 30 days appears to promote the maturation of the parotid gland. The halfway point in the dietary change at 21 days coincides with the onset of inversely related circadian cycles in feeding and the parotid enzymes. Premature weaning at 21 days accentuates both cycles and accelerates parotid maturation. The findings indicate that the physical consistency of the diet has an imporant regulatory role in the developmental patterns of feeding activity and parotid glands of rats, but they also hint that other dietary qualities may be involved. Chronologic fluctuations in plasma corticosterone suggest an intricate relationship among this hormone, feeding behavior, and parotid glands in developing rats.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010306	Parotid Gland	The largest of the three pairs of SALIVARY GLANDS. They lie on the sides of the FACE immediately below and in front of the EAR.	Gland, Parotid,Glands, Parotid,Parotid Glands
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D003345	Corticosterone	An adrenocortical steroid that has modest but significant activities as a mineralocorticoid and a glucocorticoid. (From Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p1437)
D003851	Deoxyribonucleases	Enzymes which catalyze the hydrolases of ester bonds within DNA. EC 3.1.-.	DNAase,DNase,Deoxyribonuclease,Desoxyribonuclease,Desoxyribonucleases,Nucleases, DNA,Acid DNase,Alkaline DNase,DNA Nucleases,DNase, Acid,DNase, Alkaline
D004032	Diet	Regular course of eating and drinking adopted by a person or animal.	Diets
D005247	Feeding Behavior	Behavioral responses or sequences associated with eating including modes of feeding, rhythmic patterns of eating, and time intervals.	Dietary Habits,Eating Behavior,Faith-based Dietary Restrictions,Feeding Patterns,Feeding-Related Behavior,Food Habits,Diet Habits,Eating Habits,Behavior, Eating,Behavior, Feeding,Behavior, Feeding-Related,Behaviors, Eating,Behaviors, Feeding,Behaviors, Feeding-Related,Diet Habit,Dietary Habit,Dietary Restriction, Faith-based,Dietary Restrictions, Faith-based,Eating Behaviors,Eating Habit,Faith based Dietary Restrictions,Faith-based Dietary Restriction,Feeding Behaviors,Feeding Pattern,Feeding Related Behavior,Feeding-Related Behaviors,Food Habit,Habit, Diet,Habit, Dietary,Habit, Eating,Habit, Food,Habits, Diet,Pattern, Feeding,Patterns, Feeding,Restrictions, Faith-based Dietary
D005260	Female		Females
D006128	Growth	Gradual increase in the number, the size, and the complexity of cells of an individual. Growth generally results in increase in ORGAN WEIGHT; BODY WEIGHT; and BODY HEIGHT.
D000367	Age Factors	Age as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or the effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from AGING, a physiological process, and TIME FACTORS which refers only to the passage of time.	Age Reporting,Age Factor,Factor, Age,Factors, Age