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The effect of feeding frequency on the growth and composition of individual organs in young and adult rats were investigated. Young and adult male rats were received 20% casein diet by one - meal, three - meals per day or ad libitum for 24 days. The rats were killed and analyzed with regard to the composition of individual organs. DNA, RNA, Protein, lipid and water content of the liver, kidney, speen were determined. In both young and adult rats, the body weight gain of the three - meal group was similar to that of ad - lib. group, but the body weight gain and food intake of the one - meal group were lower than those of others. In case of young rats, DNA, RNA and protein content of liver, kidney and spleen was less in one - meal group than in ad - lib. group : their compositions per DNA were, however, similar in both instances. In case of adult rats, the weight of liver increased significantly and their compostion per DNA except lipid increased in one -meal group, but the total DNA content in the liver did not show any significant difference. The size of stomach and intestine tend to increase in meal -feeding group, but the serum cholesterol showed no significant change.
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