EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL-CONDITIONS ON FOOD-CONSUMPTION IN FEMALE ANDMALE-RATS

The present experiment examined food and water consumption under diffe rent housing conditions in 20 female and 20 male Wistar rats. Food and water consumption were measured for 6 h a day following an 18-h same- sex crowded or individual housing period for each of 6 days. All subje cts were individually housed during the 6-h measurement period and had access to food and water. Female rats consumed more food and water th an did male rats during the 6-h period, regardless of their 18-h housi ng condition. In addition, previously crowded rats consumed more food and water during the 6-h period than did rats that were previously ind ividually housed. During the 18-h period, when subjects were different ially housed, males consumed more food and water than did females; cro wded rats ate less than did individually housed rats; and crowded rats drank more water than did individually housed rats. Based on plasma c orticosterone data, the female and male rats were differentially affec ted by housing conditions. The present results are discussed with rega rd to housing conditions per se and sex differences in stress response s to housing.