A microstructural analysis of water intake patterns associated with light phase food and water restriction in male and female rats.

Restricting food access to the light phase in male and female rats shifts most water intake into the light phase, linked to increased lick burst number.

• Why it matters: Prior work is mixed on whether eating or circadian timing more strongly controls water intake, and earlier studies emphasized short-term manipulations.
• What they did: Male and female rats had food access restricted to the light phase, and water intake plus lick microstructure were measured; the same microstructure was also assessed when water access was restricted to the light phase.
• The result: Light-phase food restriction shifted water intake toward the light phase, with increased lick burst number suggesting altered satiety signaling, while sex showed no effect on intake patterns.

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