Skip to main content
Log in

Thermogenesis in Birds

  • Published:
Bioscience Reports

Abstract

The article discusses the importance of avian skeletal muscle as a source for heat generation by means of both shivering and non-shivering. Non-shivering thermogenesis in birds is still a polemic issue. Recent evidence at the molecular/cellular level indicates, however, that this type of heat generation may also exist among birds. The involvement of the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase in non-shivering thermogenesis is discussed in-depth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Barré, H., Berne, G., Brebion, P., Cohen-Adad, F., and Rouanet, J. L. (1989b) Loose-coupled mitochondria in chronic glucagon-treated hyperthermic ducklings. Am. J. Physiol. 256:R1192-R1199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barré, H., Cohen-Adad, F., Duchamp, C., and Rouanet, J. (1986) Multilocular adipocytes from muscovy ducklings differentiated in response to cold-acclimation. J. Physiol. 375:27-38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barré, H., Duchamp, C., Rouanet, J.-L., Dittmar, A., and Delhomme, G. (1989a) Muscular nonshivering thermogenesis in cold-acclimated ducklings. In: Physiology of Cold Adaptation in Birds (C. Bech and R. E. Reinertsen, eds.), Plenum, New York, pp. 49-58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barré, H., Geloen, A., Chatonet, J., Dittmar, A., and Rouanet, J. (1985) Potentiated muscular thermogenesis in cold-acclimated muscovy ducklings. Am. J. Physiol. 249:R533-R538.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bicudo, J. E. P. W. (1996) Physiological correlates of daily torpor in hummingbirds. In: Animals and Temperature: Phenotypic and Evolutionary Adaptation (I. A. Johnston and A. F. Bennett, eds.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 293-311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Block, B. A. (1994) Thermogenesis in muscle. Annu. Rev. Physiol. 56:535-577.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boss, O., Hagen, T., and Lowell, B. B. (2000) Uncoupling proteins 2 and 3—Potential regulators of mitochondrial energy metabolism. Diabetes 49:143-156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carey, C., Dawson, W. R., Maxwell, L. C., and Faulkner, J. A. (1978) Seasonal acclimatization to temperature in cardueline finches. II. Changes in body composition and mass in relation to season and acute cold stress. J. Comp. Physiol. 125:101-113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connolly, E., Nedergaard, J., and Cannon, B. (1989) Shivering and nonshivering thermogenesis in birds: A mammalian view. In: Physiology of Cold Adaptation in Birds (C. Bech and R. E. Reinertsen, (eds.), Plenum, New York, pp. 37-48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, W. R. (1975) Avian physiology. Annu. Rev. Physiol. 37:441-465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, W. R. and Carey, C. (1976) Seasonal acclimatization to temperature in cardueline finches. I. Insulative and metabolic adjustments. J. Comp. Physiol. 112:317-333.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Meis, L., Bianconi, M. L., and Suzano, V. A. (1997) Control of energy fluxes by the sarcoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase: ATP hydrolysis, ATP synthesis and heat production. FEBS Lett. 406:201-204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duchamp, C. and Barré, H. (1993) Skeletal muscle as the major site of nonshivering thermogenesis in cold-acclimated ducklings. Am. J. Physiol. 265:R1076-R1083.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duchamp, C., Chatonnet, J., Dittmar, A., and Barré, H. (1993) Increased role of skeletal muscle in the calorigenic response to glucagon of cold-acclimated ducklings. Am. J. Physiol. 265:R1084-R1091.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumonteil, E., Barré, H., Meissner, G. (1993) Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase and ryanodine receptor in cold-acclimated ducklings and thermogenesis. Am. J. Physiol. 265:C507-C513.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumonteil, E., Barré, H., and Meissner, G. (1995) Expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-transport proteins in cold-acclimated ducklings. Am. J. Physiol. 269:C955-C960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Else, P. L. and Hulbert, A. J. (1987) Evolution of mammalian endothermic metabolism: Leaky membranes as a source of heat. Am. J. Physiol. 253:R1-R7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, P. A. and Racey, P. A. (1990) Daily and seasonal cycles of body temperature and aspects of heterothermy in the hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus. J. Comp. Physiol. B 160:299-307.

    Google Scholar 

  • George, J. S. and Berger, A. J. (1966) Avian Miology. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grande, F. and Prigge, W. F. (1970) Glucagon infusion, plasma FFA, and triglycerides, blood sugar, and liver lipids in birds. Am. J. Physiol. 218:1406-1411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guppy, M. and Whithers, P. (1999) Metabolic depression in animals: physiological perspectives and biochemical generalizations. Biol. Rev. 74:1-40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hausdorff, J. M., Peng, C.-K., Ladin, Z., Wei, J. Y., and Goldberger, A. L. (1995) Is walking a random walk? Evidence for long-range correlations in stride interval of human gait. J. Appl. Physiol. 78:349-358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janský, L. (1973) Non-shivering thermogenesis and its thermoregulatory significance. Biol. Rev. 48:85-132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, D. W. (1971) The absence of brown adipose tissue in birds. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A40:1107-1108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klinenberg, M. and Huang, S. G. (1999) Structure and function of the uncoupling protein from brown adipose tissue. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1415:271-296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, S. and Hedges, S. B. (1998) A molecular timescale for vertebrate evolution. Nature 392:917-920.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, D. J., Osborn, J. L., and Cowley, Jr., A. W. (1990) 1/f fluctuations in arterial pressure and regulation of renal blood flow in dogs. Am. J. Physiol. 258:F1394-F1400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, R. L. and Dawson, W. R. (1982). Substrate metabolism in seasonally acclimatized American goldfinches. Am. J. Physiol. 242:R563-R569.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNab, B. (1966) An analysis of the body temperatures of birds. Condor 68:47-55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, P. R. and Ryser, F. A. (1952) Weight and body temperature in mammals. Science 116:231-232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prosser, C. L. (1986) Adaptational Biology: Molecules to Organisms. Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rashotte, M. E., Saarela, S., Henderson, R. P., and Hohtola, E. (1999) Shivering and digestion-related thermogenesis in pigeons during dark phase. Am. J. Physiol. 46:R1579-R1587.

    Google Scholar 

  • Refinetti, R. (1996) Comparison of the body temperature rhythms of diurnal and nocturnal rodents. J. Exp. Zool. 275:67-70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Refinetti, R. and Menaker, M. (1992) Body temperature rhythm of the tree shrew, Tupaia belangeri. J. Exp. Zool. 263:453-457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricquier, D. and Bouillaud, F. (2000) The uncoupling protein homologues: UCP1, UCP2, UCP3, StUCP and AtUCP. Biochem. J. 345:161-179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roussel, D., Rouanet, J. L., Duchamp, C., and Barré, H. (1998) Effects of cold acclimation and palmitate on energy coupling in duckling skeletal muscle mitochondria. FEBS Lett. 439:258-262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saarela, S., Keith, J. S., Hohtola, E., and Trayhurn, P. (1991) Is the mammalian brown fat-specific mitochondrial uncoupling protein present in adipose tissues of birds? Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B100:45-49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt-Nielsen, K. (1972) How Animals Work. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt-Nielsen, K. (1991) Animal Physiology, Adaptation and Environment, 4th ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuchmann, K.-L. and Schmidt-Marloh, D. (1979) Metabolic and thermal responses to heat and cold in streamertail hummingbirds (Trochilus polytmus and Trochilus scitulus, Trochilidae). Biotropica 11:123-126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R. E. and Horwitz, B. A. (1969) Brown fat and thermogenesis. Physiol. Rev. 49:330-425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suarez, R. K., Brown, G. S., and Hochachka, P. W. (1986) Metabolic sources of energy for hummingbird flight. Am. J. Physiol. 251:R537-R542.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suarez, R. K., Lighton, J. R. B., Brown, G. S., and Matheiu-Costello, O. (1991) Mitochondrial respiration in hummingbird flight muscles. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:4870-4873.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talesara, G. L. and Goldspink, G. (1978) A combined histochemical and biochemical study of myofibrillar ATPase in pectoral, leg, and cardiac muscle of several species of bird. Histochem. J. 10:695-710.

    Google Scholar 

  • West, G. C. (1965) Shivering and heat production in wild birds. Physiol. Zool. 38:111.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bicudo, J.E.P.W., Vianna, C.R. & Chaui-Berlinck, J.G. Thermogenesis in Birds. Biosci Rep 21, 181–188 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013648208428

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013648208428

Navigation