Ketone bodies: a source of energy during hibernation

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Rauch, Josefine C., Behrisch, Hans W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1981
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic; Arctic ground squirrel
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z81-108; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z81-108

Tissue concentrations of acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate (ketone bodies) were determined for the blood, liver, caecum, heart, and axillary brown fat, from nonhibernating and hibernating arctic ground squirrels, Spermophilus undulatus, in late spring and during winter, respectively. AcetylCoA and acetoacetylCoA concentrations were measured in the liver, heart, and brown adipose tissue.Except that the concentration of acetylCoA remained unchanged in the liver, all tissues investigated showed elevated concentrations of acetylCoA, acetoacetylCoA, and ketone bodies during the hibernating state. From the increased concentrations of acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate it was deduced that active ketone body metabolism occurs in the hibernating arctic ground squirrel, and that during hibernation, ketone bodies are probably an important source of energy.