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Mota CMD, Madden CJ. Neural circuits of long-term thermoregulatory adaptations to cold temperatures and metabolic demands. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:143-158. [PMID: 38316956 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00785-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The mammalian brain controls heat generation and heat loss mechanisms that regulate body temperature and energy metabolism. Thermoeffectors include brown adipose tissue, cutaneous blood flow and skeletal muscle, and metabolic energy sources include white adipose tissue. Neural and metabolic pathways modulating the activity and functional plasticity of these mechanisms contribute not only to the optimization of function during acute challenges, such as ambient temperature changes, infection and stress, but also to longitudinal adaptations to environmental and internal changes. Exposure of humans to repeated and seasonal cold ambient conditions leads to adaptations in thermoeffectors such as habituation of cutaneous vasoconstriction and shivering. In animals that undergo hibernation and torpor, neurally regulated metabolic and thermoregulatory adaptations enable survival during periods of significant reduction in metabolic rate. In addition, changes in diet can activate accessory neural pathways that alter thermoeffector activity. This knowledge may be harnessed for therapeutic purposes, including treatments for obesity and improved means of therapeutic hypothermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa M D Mota
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Christopher J Madden
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
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2
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Bienboire-Frosini C, Wang D, Marcet-Rius M, Villanueva-García D, Gazzano A, Domínguez-Oliva A, Olmos-Hernández A, Hernández-Ávalos I, Lezama-García K, Verduzco-Mendoza A, Gómez-Prado J, Mota-Rojas D. The Role of Brown Adipose Tissue and Energy Metabolism in Mammalian Thermoregulation during the Perinatal Period. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2173. [PMID: 37443971 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypothermia is one of the most common causes of mortality in neonates, and it could be developed after birth because the uterus temperature is more elevated than the extrauterine temperature. Neonates use diverse mechanisms to thermoregulate, such as shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis. These strategies can be more efficient in some species, but not in others, i.e., altricials, which have the greatest difficulty with achieving thermoneutrality. In addition, there are anatomical and neurological differences in mammals, which may present different distributions and amounts of brown fat. This article aims to discuss the neuromodulation mechanisms of thermoregulation and the importance of brown fat in the thermogenesis of newborn mammals, emphasizing the analysis of the biochemical, physiological, and genetic factors that determine the distribution, amount, and efficiency of this energy resource in newborns of different species. It has been concluded that is vital to understand and minimize hypothermia causes in newborns, which is one of the main causes of mortality in neonates. This would be beneficial for both animals and producers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Bienboire-Frosini
- Department of Molecular Biology and Chemical Communication, Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Dehua Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Míriam Marcet-Rius
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare Department, Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Dina Villanueva-García
- Division of Neonatology, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City 06720, Mexico
| | - Angelo Gazzano
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Adriana Olmos-Hernández
- Division of Biotechnology-Bioterio and Experimental Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra (INR-LGII), Mexico City 14389, Mexico
| | - Ismael Hernández-Ávalos
- Clinical Pharmacology and Veterinary Anesthesia, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlán Izcalli 54714, Mexico
| | - Karina Lezama-García
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Antonio Verduzco-Mendoza
- Division of Biotechnology-Bioterio and Experimental Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra (INR-LGII), Mexico City 14389, Mexico
| | - Jocelyn Gómez-Prado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
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Gagnon CM, Svardal H, Jasinska AJ, Danzy Cramer J, Freimer NB, Paul Grobler J, Turner TR, Schmitt CA. Evidence of selection in the uncoupling protein 1 gene region suggests local adaptation to solar irradiance in savannah monkeys ( Chlorocebus spp.). Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221254. [PMID: 36100027 PMCID: PMC9470266 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last 300 thousand years, the genus Chlorocebus expanded from equatorial Africa into the southernmost latitudes of the continent, where colder climate was a probable driver of natural selection. We investigated population-level genetic variation in the mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) gene region-implicated in non-shivering thermogenesis (NST)-in 73 wild savannah monkeys from three taxa representing this southern expansion (Chlorocebus pygerythrus hilgerti, Chlorocebus cynosuros and Chlorocebus pygerythrus pygerythrus) ranging from Kenya to South Africa. We found 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms with extended haplotype homozygosity consistent with positive selective sweeps, 10 of which show no significant linkage disequilibrium with each other. Phylogenetic generalized least-squares modelling with ecological covariates suggest that most derived allele frequencies are significantly associated with solar irradiance and winter precipitation, rather than overall low temperatures. This selection and association with irradiance is demonstrated by a relatively isolated population in the southern coastal belt of South Africa. We suggest that sunbathing behaviours common to savannah monkeys, in combination with the strength of solar irradiance, may mediate adaptations to thermal stress via NST among savannah monkeys. The variants we discovered all lie in non-coding regions, some with previously documented regulatory functions, calling for further validation and research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hannes Svardal
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anna J. Jasinska
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | | | - Nelson B. Freimer
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - J. Paul Grobler
- Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Free State 9301, South Africa
| | - Trudy R. Turner
- Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Free State 9301, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA
| | - Christopher A. Schmitt
- Department of Anthropology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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Lyons SA, McClelland GB. Thermogenesis is supported by high rates of circulatory fatty acid and triglyceride delivery in highland deer mice. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275398. [PMID: 35552735 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Highland native deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) have greater rates of lipid oxidation during maximal cold challenge in hypoxia (hypoxic cold-induced V˙O2max) compared to their lowland conspecifics. Lipid oxidation is also increased in deer mice acclimated to simulated high altitude (cold hypoxia), regardless of altitude ancestry. The underlying lipid metabolic pathway traits responsible for sustaining maximal thermogenic demand in deer mice is currently unknown. The objective of this study was to characterize key steps in the lipid oxidation pathway in highland and lowland deer mice acclimated to control (23oC, 21kPa O2) or cold hypoxic (5oC, 12kPa O2) conditions. We hypothesized that capacities for lipid delivery and tissue uptake will be greater in highlanders and further increase with cold hypoxia acclimation. With the transition from rest to hypoxic cold-induced V˙O2max, both highland and lowland deer mice showed increased plasma glycerol concentrations and fatty acid availability. Interestingly, cold hypoxia acclimation led to increased plasma triglyceride concentrations at cold-induced V˙O2max, but only in highlanders. Highlanders also had significantly greater delivery rates of circulatory free fatty acids and triglycerides due to higher plasma flow rates at cold-induced V˙O2max. We found no population or acclimation differences in fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) abundance in the gastrocnemius or brown adipose tissue, suggesting fatty acid uptake across membranes is not limiting during thermogenesis. Our data indicate that circulatory lipid delivery plays a major role in supporting the high thermogenic rates observed in highland versus lowland deer mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sulayman A Lyons
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Grant B McClelland
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
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Menéndez J, Ruperto EF, Taraborelli PA, Sassi PL. Phenotypic plasticity in the energy metabolism of a small Andean rodent: Effect of short-term thermal acclimation and developmental conditions. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 337:303-315. [PMID: 34914858 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The study of phenotypic variation within species in response to different environments is a central issue in evolutionary and ecological physiology. Particularly, ambient temperature is one of the most important factors modulating interactions between animals and their environment. Phyllotis xanthopygus, a small Andean rodent, exhibits intraspecific differences along an altitudinal gradient in traits relevant to energy balance that persist after acclimation to common experimental temperatures. Therefore, we aim to explore geographic variations in energetic traits of P. xanthopygus and to assess the contribution of phenotypic plasticity to population differences. We compared metabolic rate and thermal conductance in response to different acclimation temperatures in animals collected at distinct altitudes (F0 generation) and in their offspring, born and raised under common-garden conditions (F1 generation). We found intraspecific differences in resting metabolic rate (RMR) of animals collected at different altitudes that were no longer evident in the F1 generation. Furthermore, although both generations showed the same pattern of RMR flexibility in response to acclimation temperature, its magnitude was lower for the F1 individuals. This suggests that developmental conditions affect the short-term acclimation capacity of this trait during adulthood. On the other hand, thermal conductance (C) showed irreversible plasticity, as animals raised in the laboratory at stable warm conditions had a relatively higher C than the animals from the field, showing no adjustments to thermal acclimation during adulthood in either group. In sum, our results support the hypothesis that the developmental environment shapes energetic traits, emphasizing the relevance of incorporating ontogeny in physiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefina Menéndez
- Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad, Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Áridas, CCT-Mendoza, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Emmanuel F Ruperto
- Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad, Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Áridas, CCT-Mendoza, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Paula A Taraborelli
- EEA BARROW, Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur, INTA and CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paola L Sassi
- Grupo de Investigaciones de la Biodiversidad, Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Áridas, CCT-Mendoza, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
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Hayward L, Robertson CE, McClelland GB. Phenotypic plasticity to chronic cold exposure in two species of Peromyscus from different environments. J Comp Physiol B 2022; 192:335-348. [PMID: 34988665 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-021-01423-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Effective thermoregulation is important for mammals, particularly those that remain winter-active. Adjustments in thermoregulatory capacity in response to chronic cold can improve capacities for metabolic heat production (cold-induced maximal oxygen consumption, [Formula: see text]), minimize rates of heat loss (thermal conductance), or both. This can be challenging for animals living in chronically colder habitats where necessary resources (i.e., food, O2) for metabolic heat production are limited. Here we used lowland native white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and highland deer mice (P. maniculatus) native to 4300 m, to test the hypothesis that small winter-active mammals have evolved distinct cold acclimation responses to tailor their thermal physiology based on the energetic demands of their environment. We found that both species increased their [Formula: see text] after cold acclimation, associated with increases in brown adipose tissue mass and expression of uncoupling protein 1. They also broadened their thermoneutral zone to include lower ambient temperatures. This was accompanied by an increase in basal metabolic rate but only in white-footed mice, and neither species adjusted thermal conductance. Unique to highland deer mice was a mild hypothermia as ambient temperatures decreased, which reduced the gradient for heat loss, possibly to save energy in the chronically cold high alpine. These results highlight that thermal acclimation involves coordinated plasticity of numerous traits and suggest that small, winter-active mammals may adjust different aspects of their physiology in response to changing temperatures to best suit their energetic and thermoregulatory needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Hayward
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Cayleih E Robertson
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Grant B McClelland
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
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Increased Reliance on Carbohydrates for Aerobic Exercise in Highland Andean Leaf-Eared Mice, but Not in Highland Lima Leaf-Eared Mice. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11110750. [PMID: 34822408 PMCID: PMC8618444 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11110750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Exercise is an important performance trait in mammals and variation in aerobic capacity and/or substrate allocation during submaximal exercise may be important for survival at high altitude. Comparisons between lowland and highland populations is a fruitful approach to understanding the mechanisms for altitude differences in exercise performance. However, it has only been applied in very few highland species. The leaf-eared mice (LEM, genus Phyllotis) of South America are a promising taxon to uncover the pervasiveness of hypoxia tolerance mechanisms. Here we use lowland and highland populations of Andean and Lima LEM (P. andium and P. limatus), acclimated to common laboratory conditions, to determine exercise-induced maximal oxygen consumption (V˙O2max), and submaximal exercise metabolism. Lowland and highland populations of both species showed no difference in V˙O2max running in either normoxia or hypoxia. When run at 75% of V˙O2max, highland Andean LEM had a greater reliance on carbohydrate oxidation to power exercise. In contrast, highland Lima LEM showed no difference in exercise fuel use compared to their lowland counterparts. The higher carbohydrate oxidation seen in highland Andean LEM was not explained by maximal activities of glycolytic enzymes in the gastrocnemius muscle, which were equivalent to lowlanders. This result is consistent with data on highland deer mouse populations and suggests changes in metabolic regulation may explain altitude differences in exercise performance.
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Scott GR, Dalziel AC. Physiological insight into the evolution of complex phenotypes: aerobic performance and the O2 transport pathway of vertebrates. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:271829. [PMID: 34387318 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.210849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionary physiology strives to understand how the function and integration of physiological systems influence the way in which organisms evolve. Studies of the O2 transport pathway - the integrated physiological system that transports O2 from the environment to mitochondria - are well suited to this endeavour. We consider the mechanistic underpinnings across the O2 pathway for the evolution of aerobic capacity, focusing on studies of artificial selection and naturally selected divergence among wild populations of mammals and fish. We show that evolved changes in aerobic capacity do not require concerted changes across the O2 pathway and can arise quickly from changes in one or a subset of pathway steps. Population divergence in aerobic capacity can be associated with the evolution of plasticity in response to environmental variation or activity. In some cases, initial evolutionary divergence of aerobic capacity arose exclusively from increased capacities for O2 diffusion and/or utilization in active O2-consuming tissues (muscle), which may often constitute first steps in adaptation. However, continued selection leading to greater divergence in aerobic capacity is often associated with increased capacities for circulatory and pulmonary O2 transport. Increases in tissue O2 diffusing capacity may augment the adaptive benefit of increasing circulatory O2 transport owing to their interactive influence on tissue O2 extraction. Theoretical modelling of the O2 pathway suggests that O2 pathway steps with a disproportionately large influence over aerobic capacity have been more likely to evolve, but more work is needed to appreciate the extent to which such physiological principles can predict evolutionary outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham R Scott
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Anne C Dalziel
- Department of Biology, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3C3, Canada
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