Source Paper
Restricted feeding uncouples circadian oscillators in peripheral tissues from the central pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nucleus
Francesca Damiola, Nguyet Le Minh, Nicolas Preitner, Benoı̂t Kornmann, Fabienne Fleury-Olela et al.
Genes & Development • 2000
Restricted Feeding Phase Manipulation
Objective: To assess effects of temporal feeding restriction on circadian phase in peripheral tissues under light-dark or dark-dark conditions, and determine if feeding-induced phase changes uncouple peripheral oscillators from the central SCN pacemaker
Protocol Steps
Establish baseline light-dark conditions
Maintain animals under standard light-dark conditions prior to feeding restriction manipulation
Note: Baseline period needed before implementing feeding restriction
View evidence from paper
“temporal feeding restriction under light–dark or dark–dark conditions can change the phase of circadian gene expression”
Implement temporal feeding restriction
Apply restricted feeding schedule under either light-dark or dark-dark conditions to manipulate feeding time
Note: Can be conducted under light-dark or dark-dark conditions
View evidence from paper
“temporal feeding restriction under light–dark or dark–dark conditions can change the phase of circadian gene expression in peripheral cell types”
Apply sudden large changes in feeding time
Implement abrupt changes in feeding time similar to photoperiod shifts to assess phase resetting
Note: Phase resetting proceeds gradually and likely acts through clock-dependent mechanism
View evidence from paper
“Sudden large changes in feeding time, similar to abrupt changes in the photoperiod, reset the phase of rhythmic gene expression gradually”
Assess phase changes in peripheral tissues
Measure circadian gene expression phase changes in liver, kidney, heart, and pancreas tissues
Note: Food-induced phase resetting proceeds faster in liver than in kidney, heart, or pancreas
View evidence from paper
“Food-induced phase resetting proceeds faster in liver than in kidney, heart, or pancreas, but after 1 wk of daytime feeding, the phases of circadian gene expression are similar in all examined peripheral tissues”
Measure SCN phase expression
Assess cyclic gene expression phase in the suprachiasmatic nucleus to determine if central pacemaker is affected
Note: SCN phase should remain unaffected by feeding restriction
View evidence from paper
“temporal feeding restriction under light–dark or dark–dark conditions can change the phase of circadian gene expression in peripheral cell types by up to 12 h while leaving the phase of cyclic gene expression in the SCN unaffected”