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Metabolism, thermogenesis and daily rhythm of body temperature in the wood lemming, Myopus schisticolor

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Abstract

Wood lemmings (Myopus schisticolor) were captured during their autumnal migration in September and October. The animals were maintained at 12°C and under 12L:12D photoperiod. Basal metabolic rate and thermogenic capacity of the wood lemming were studied. Basal metabolic rate was 3.54 ml O2·g-1·h-1, which is 215–238% of the expected value. The high basal metabolic rate seems to be typical of rodents living in high latitudes. The body temperature of the wood lemming was high (38.0–38.8°C), and did not fluctuate much during the 24-h recording. The high basal metabolic rate and the high body temperature are discussed with regard to behavioural adaptation to a low-quality winter diet. Thermogenic capacity, thermal insulation and non-shivering thermogenesis of the wood lemming displayed higher values than expected: 53.0 mW·g-1, 0.53 mW·g-1·C-1 and 53.2 mW·g-1, respectively. Brown adipose tissue showed typical thermogenic properties, although its respiratory property was fairly low, but mitochondrial protein content was high compared to other small mammals. The 24-h recording of body temperature and motor activity did not reveal whether the wood lemming is a nocturnal animal. Possibly, the expression of a circadian rhythm was masked by peculiar feeding behaviour. It is concluded that the wood lemming is well adapted to living in cold-temperature climates.

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Abbreviations

BAT:

brown adipose tissue; bm, body mass

BMR:

basal metabolic rate

C :

conductance

Cox:

cytochrome-c-oxidase

HP:

heat production

HPmax :

maximum heat production

M :

metabolism

NA:

noradrenaline

NST:

non-shivering thermogenesis

NSTmax :

maximum non-shivering thermogenesis

RMR:

resting metabolic rate

RQ:

respiratory quotient

T a :

anibient temperature

T b :

body temperature

T lc :

lower critical temperature

UCP:

uncoupling protein

vO2 :

oxygen consumption

vO2 max :

maximum oxygen consumption

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 400, SF-90571, Oulu, Finland

    S. Saarela & R. Hissa

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  1. S. Saarela
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  2. R. Hissa
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Saarela, S., Hissa, R. Metabolism, thermogenesis and daily rhythm of body temperature in the wood lemming, Myopus schisticolor . J Comp Physiol B 163, 546–555 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00302113

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