Trade-off between energy budget, thermogenesis and behavior in Swiss mice under stochastic food deprivation

(1)The role of metabolic rate, thermogenesis and behavior in trade-off strategy was examined in Swiss mice under stochastic food deprivation (FD).(2)For the mice under severe FD, food intake on feeding days increased, and basal metabolic rate (BMR) and nonshivering thermogenesis decreased significantly. The duration of activity decreased but resting behavior increased significantly on feeding days.(3)It suggested that a trade-off between increased food intake and decreased energy expenditure related to lower BMR, thermogenesis and activity might be employed to meet reduced calorie intake caused by unpredictable FD.