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Seasonal changes in mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase activity in a hibernator,Spermophilus richardsonii

  • Published:
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Summary

  1. 1.

    Liver mitochondrial functions were evaluated in Richardson's ground squirrels during different phases of the annual hibernation cycle.

  2. 2.

    Arrhenius plots of succinate oxidase-linked H+ ejection, Ca2+ uptake and O2 consumption exhibited discontinuities (T c) near 21 °C in summer-active (July) ground squirrels and at 11–13 °C in warm (20 °C)- or cold (4 °C)-acclimated winter animals. No discontinuities were detected in some warm- and cold-acclimated individuals which had not yet exhibited torpor.

  3. 3.

    Arrhenius plots of animals killed during hibernation (T b=4 °C) or 12–14 h after arousal from hibernation (T b=37 °C) were linear between 4–37 °C. The rates of mitochondrial O2 consumption were markedly depressed in hibernating animals.

  4. 4.

    Spring (April, emerged from hibernation) animals showed a return to discontinuous Arrhenius plots with aT c near 12 °C.

  5. 5.

    The results indicate seasonal differences in the thermal behaviour of mitochondrial membrane functions commensurate with hibernation. The lowering of aT c in euthermic animals between summer and winter and the absence of aT c in hibernating and aroused animals suggest these seasonal changes are independent of ambient and body temperature.

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Abbreviations

BSA :

bovine serum albumin

CA :

cold(4 °C)-acclimated

E a :

apparent energy of activation

EGTA :

ethylene glycol bis(-aminoethyl ether)N,N′-tetraacetic acid

NaHEPES :

4-(2-hydroxyethyl)1-piperazine ethanesulfonic acid disodium salt

T b :

body temperature (rectal)

T c :

critical transition temperature

WA :

warm(20° C)-acclimated

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, T6G 2E9, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Daniel J. Pehowich & Lawrence C. H. Wang

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  1. Daniel J. Pehowich
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  2. Lawrence C. H. Wang
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Pehowich, D.J., Wang, L.C.H. Seasonal changes in mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase activity in a hibernator,Spermophilus richardsonii . J Comp Physiol B 154, 495–501 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02515154

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02515154

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