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Restricted Feeding Intervention — Laura K. Fonken | ReplicateScience

Experiments/Restricted Feeding Intervention

Source Paper

Light at night increases body mass by shifting the time of food intake

Laura K. Fonken, Joanna L. Workman, James C. Walton, Zachary M. Weil, John S. Morris et al.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences • 2010

Restricted Feeding Intervention

behavioralmouseNot specified

Objective: To examine whether restricting food consumption to the active phase prevents body mass gain in dim light mice, and to determine if timing of food intake is responsible for increased body mass under light at night conditions

Materials & Equipment Checklist

6 items

Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.

Equipment6

Light housing chambers for dim light at night (DM) condition

Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not mentioned

Light housing chambers for bright light at night (LL) condition

Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not mentioned

Standard light/dark cycle (LD) housing chambers

Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not mentioned

Food intake monitoring system

Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not mentioned

Activity monitoring system

Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not mentioned

Glucose tolerance testing equipment

Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not mentioned

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Protocol Steps

1

Housing assignment and light condition establishment

Assign male mice to three housing conditions: bright light at night (LL), dim light at night (DM), or standard light/dark cycle (LD) control

Not specifiedNot specified

Note: Three experimental groups with different light conditions

View evidence from paper

“Mice housed in either bright (LL) or dim (DM) LAN have significantly increased body mass and reduced glucose tolerance compared with mice in a standard (LD) light/dark cycle”

2

Baseline measurements

Measure initial body mass, caloric intake, daily activity output, and glucose tolerance in all three housing conditions

Not specifiedNot specified

Note: Establish baseline metabolic parameters before intervention

View evidence from paper

“despite equivalent levels of caloric intake and total daily activity output”

3

Monitor food consumption timing

Track the timing of food intake in DM and LL mice compared to LD control mice to establish baseline consumption patterns

Not specifiedNot specified

Note: DM mice consume 55.5% of food during light phase versus 36.5% in LD mice

View evidence from paper

“DM mice consume 55.5% of their food during the light phase, as compared with 36.5% in LD mice”

4

Implement food restriction to active phase

Restrict food consumption to the active phase (night) in DM mice by controlling food availability

Not specifiedNot specified

Note: Food is made available only during the active (nocturnal) phase for DM mice

View evidence from paper

“Restricting food consumption to the active phase in DM mice prevents body mass gain”

5

Monitor body mass during intervention

Measure body mass gain in DM mice with restricted feeding compared to unrestricted DM and LD control mice

Not specifiedNot specified

Note: Primary outcome measure is prevention of body mass gain

View evidence from paper

“Restricting food consumption to the active phase in DM mice prevents body mass gain”

6

Measure metabolic parameters post-intervention

Assess glucose tolerance and other metabolic markers in food-restricted DM mice compared to unrestricted groups

Not specifiedNot specified

Note: Determine if timing of food intake affects metabolic outcomes

View evidence from paper

“low levels of light at night disrupt the timing of food intake and other metabolic signals, leading to excess weight gain”