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Summer acclimatization in the short-tailed field vole,Microtus agrestis

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Abstract

We investigated the changes that occurred in basal and noradrenaline-induced metabolic rate, body temperature and body mass in short-tailed field voles,Microtus agrestis, during exposure to naturally increasing photoperiod and ambient temperature. These parameters were first measured in winter-acclimatized voles (n=8) and then in the same voles which had been allowed to seasonally acclimatize to photoperiod and ambient temperature (6 months later). Noradrenaline induced metabolic rate, basal metabolic rate and nonshivering thermogenesis were significantly higher in winter-acclimatized compared to summer-acclimatized voles. There was a significant positive relationship between basal metabolic rate and noradrenaline-induced metabolic rate. Body mass was significantly higher in summer-acclimatized compared to winter-acclimatized voles. There was a significant positive relationship between body mass and noradrenaline-induced metabolic rate in both winter-acclimalized and summer-acclimatized voles; however, there was no relationship between basal metabolic rate and body mass in either seasonal group of voles. Body temperature after measurements of basal metabolic rate was not significantly different in the seasonal cohorts of voles. However, body temperature was significantly higher in winter-acclimatized compared to summer-acclimatized voles after injection of noradrenaline. Previously we have found that a long photoperiod was not a sufficient stimulus to reduce thermogenic capacity in winter-acclimatized voles during cold exposure, since basal metabolic rate increased to compensate for a reduction in regulatory nonshivering thermogenesis. Here we found that a combination of increased ambient temperature and photoperiod did significantly reduce thermogenic capacity in winter-acclimatized voles. This provided evidence that the two aspects of non-shivering thermogenesis, obligatory and regulatory, are stimulated by different exogenous cues. Summer acclimatization in the shorttailed field vole is manifest as a significant decrease in both basal and noradrenaline-induced metabolic rate, combined with a significant increase in body mass.

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Abbreviations

ANCOV A :

analysis of covariance

BAT :

brown adipose tissue

BM :

body mass

BMR :

basal metabolic rate

NST :

non-shivering thermogenesis

NA :

noradrenaline

V:

the maximum V recorded following mass specific injection of noradrenaline

V:

the maximum V recorded following mass specific injection of saline

T a :

ambient temperature

T b :

rectal body temperature

T 1c :

lower critical temperature

UCP :

uncoupling protein

V:

oxygen consumption

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  1. R. M. McDevitt

    Present address: The Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, CB2 2DH, Cambridge, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, AB9 2TN, Aberdeen, UK

    R. M. McDevitt & J. R. Speakman

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Communicated by H. Huddart

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McDevitt, R.M., Speakman, J.R. Summer acclimatization in the short-tailed field vole,Microtus agrestis . J Comp Physiol B 166, 286–293 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00262873

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