The median preoptic nucleus exhibits circadian regulation and is involved in food anticipatory activity in rabbit pups

Abstract

Rabbit pups are a natural model to study food anticipatory activity (FAA). Recently, we reported that three areas in the forebrain – the organum vasculosum of lamina terminalis, median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) and medial preoptic area – exhibit activation during FAA. Here, we examined the PER1 protein profile of these three forebrain regions in both nursed and fasted subjects. We found robust PER1 oscillations in the MnPO in nursed subjects, with high PER1 levels during FAA that persisted in fasted subjects. In conclusion, our data indicate that periodic nursing is a strong signal for PER1 oscillations in MnPO and future experiments are warranted to explore the specific role of this area in FAA.

• Arousal
• food-entrained oscillator
• PER1

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr Andrew Gall for corrections and helpful comments. We also gratefully acknowledge Biol. Mercedes Acosta for her invaluable help with maintaining and caring for the rabbit colony.