Regulation of food intake in monkeys: Response to caloric dilution

Ability to regulate level of energy intake was studied in adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) using calorically diluted diets. Twenty-four hour access to a complete liquid diet was provided via leakproof gravity feeders. The addition of water provided 4 caloric concentrations over the range of 0.5 to 1.35 kcal/ml. Average caloric intake per kg body weight was 84 +/- 0.7 kcal/kg (mean +/- SE). Seven of the eight monkeys maintained a constant caloric intake by adjusting oral intake in response to randomly ordered but sustained changes in caloric density. One monkey ingested a significantly higher caloric load while receiving the highest density diet. Rates of compensation for dilution following each diet change varied widely, occurring over periods of 3 days to 2 weeks. It was concluded that individual monkeys vary significantly in the rat of adjustment to caloric dilution, and thus long term studies must be used in studying controls of feeding in monkeys.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24454/1/0000728.pd