Effects of level of food restriction on body mass and thermogenesis in a tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri)

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Gong Xue-na, Zhang Hao, Gao Wen-rong, Zhu Wan-Long

 

Key Laboratory of Ecological Adaptive Evolution and Conservation on Animals-Plants in Southwest Mountain Ecosystem of Yunnan Province Higher Institutes College, School of Life Science of Yunnan Normal University, Kunming; 650500, China

This study investigates the energy strategies of a small mammal in response to food shortages as a function of level of food restriction (FR). We subjected tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) to different levels of FR and measured body mass, survival rate, resting metabolic rate (RMR), nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Body mass, RMR, NST and COX activity of BAT were significantly decreased in FR animals. After 4 weeks of FR, survival rates ranged from 80% in animals restricted to 90% of ad libitum food intake to 30% in those restricted to 60% of ad libitum intake. These results indicate that tree shrews, known for their relatively high metabolic rates, are sensitive to periods of FR, which supports the metabolic switch hypothesis.

Keywords: Tupaia belangeri; thermogenesis; cytochrome c oxidase