Timed feeding restores daily rhythms in the pineal gland of rats with damaged brain clock

Daily restricted feeding restored rhythmic pineal melatonin synthesis in SCN-lesioned rats.

• Restricted feeding reinstated rhythmic production of the enzyme responsible for melatonin synthesis.
• The expression of a specific protein associated with cellular activity also became rhythmic with restricted feeding.
• Control rats without a functional SCN did not exhibit any rhythmicity in melatonin synthesis despite daily stress.
• Combining restricted feeding with daily stress did not disrupt the rhythmic expression of the enzyme or protein but prevented the restoration of melatonin rhythmicity.
• The findings suggest that feeding cues can influence melatonin production independently of the master clock in the SCN.

Simplified