Ambient Temperature Effects on the Spring and Autumn Somatic Growth Trajectory Show Plasticity in the Photoneuroendocrine Response Pathway in the Tundra Vole ...

• Main Authors: van Dalum, Mattis Jayme, van Rosmalen, Laura, Appenroth, Daniel, Cazarez Marquez, Fernando, Roodenrijs, Renzo T. M., de Wit, Lauren, Hut, Roelof A., Hazlerigg, David G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: SAGE Journals 2023
• Subjects: Endocrinology; Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified; Neuroscience; Tundra
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25384/sage.c.6786736; https://sage.figshare.com/collections/Ambient_Temperature_Effects_on_the_Spring_and_Autumn_Somatic_Growth_Trajectory_Show_Plasticity_in_the_Photoneuroendocrine_Response_Pathway_in_the_Tundra_Vole/6786736

Seasonal mammals register photoperiodic changes through the photoneuroendocrine system enabling them to time seasonal changes in growth, metabolism, and reproduction. To a varying extent, proximate environmental factors like ambient temperature (T a ) modulate timing of seasonal changes in physiology, conferring adaptive flexibility. While the molecular photoneuroendocrine pathway governing the seasonal responses is well defined, the mechanistic integration of nonphotoperiodic modulatory cues is poorly understood. Here, we explored the interaction between T a and photoperiod in tundra voles, Microtus oeconomus , a boreal species in which the main impact of photoperiod is on postnatal somatic growth. We demonstrate that postweaning growth potential depends on both gestational and postweaning patterns of photoperiodic exposure, with the highest growth potential seen in voles experiencing short (8 h) gestational and long (16 h) postweaning photoperiods—corresponding to a spring growth program. Modulation by T a ...