Metabolic Profiling and Physiological Monitoring in Hibernating Arctic Ground Squirrels during Ammonium Acetate Infusions
Hibernators such as the arctic ground squirrel, undergo periods of prolonged torpor interrupted by brief periods of euthermy (interbout arousals) throughout the hibernation season. Animals do not eat for the duration of the hibernation season that can last up to eight months in the arctic ground squ...
| Published in: | The FASEB Journal |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , |
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2017
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.lb730 |
| Summary: | Hibernators such as the arctic ground squirrel, undergo periods of prolonged torpor interrupted by brief periods of euthermy (interbout arousals) throughout the hibernation season. Animals do not eat for the duration of the hibernation season that can last up to eight months in the arctic ground squirrel. In the last 10 years high throughput metabolic screenings of hibernators have elucidated key characteristics of different stages within the hibernation season, but this characterization has been limited to observational studies. Evidence suggests that interbout arousals function to maintain or rebalance carbon and nitrogen homeostasis. How nitrogen load impacts metabolic and neural signaling pathways during prolonged torpor is unknown. To define how physiologically relevant nitrogen loads impact the hibernation metabolic profile and onset of interbout arousal we infused a nitrogen donor during early torpor to mimic aspects of late‐stage torpor. Arctic ground squirrels were instrumented with indwelling arterial and venous cannulas and body temperature transmitters. The rate of oxygen consumption was monitored using open flow respirometry. Blood samples were collected for up to 10 days and analyzed by UHPLC‐MS. Infusion of ammonium acetate increased plasma glutamine and 5‐oxoproline levels significantly. This raises the interesting question about a potential role of the gamma‐glutamyl system in nitrogen balance and metabolic homeostasis in hibernation. This work was performed in conformance with the FASEB Statement of Principles for animals used in research. Support or Funding Information This work was supported by NSF IOS‐1258179 |
|---|