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Comparative aspects of cold acclimation and nonshivering thermogenesis in homeotherms

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Abstract

In some small animals (rat, guinea,pig) adaptation to cold entails an increased ability to produce heat through nonshivering thermogenesis. This is closely associated with the calorigenic action of noradrenaline (NA), In bigger animals (rabbit) the magnitude of nonshivering thermogenesis governed by NA is smaller and these animals rely mostly on adaptation by means of increased insulation. In some other species (white mouse, hedgehog, dog, young fowl)the role of NA in cold acclimation is either not clear or dubious. The last group of homeotherms involves species which do not show either nonshivering thermogenesis or increased insulation after cold adaptation although the resistance to cold has been found to be increased (pigeon, chickens, miniature swine, new born pig). An entirely new mechanism of cold adaptation must be anticipated in these species.

Zusammenfassung

In einigen kleineren Tierarten (Ratte, Meerschweinchen) schliesst die Anpassung an Kälte eine erhöhte Fähigkeit zur Wärmebildung ohne Muskelzittern ein. Dieser Beitrag zur Wärmebildung ist zusätzlich zu dem durch Muskelzittern und eng mit der kalorigenen Wirkung von Noradrenalin (NA) verbunden. Grössere Tiere passen sich an Kälte vorwiegend durch Verbesserung der Isolation an (Kaninchen). Der Anteil der durch NA gesteuerten Thermogenese ist gering. Bei anderen Tieren (Maus, Igel, Hund, junges Geflügel) ist die Rolle des NA entweder noch nicht abgeklärt oder zweifelhaft. Schliesslich gibt es Tiere (Taube, Huhn, junge Schweine), die bei Kälteakklimatisation weder eine Verbesserung der Isolation noch zitterfreie Thermogenese aufweisen. Bei diesen Tierarten muss ein völlig neuer Mechanismus der Kälteanpassung angenommen werden.

Resume

Pour quelques espèces de petits animaux (rats, cobaye), l'adaptation au froid englobe la possibilité accrue de production de chaleur sans tremblement musculaire. Cette contribution à la production de chaleur se greffe à celle provenant du tremblement musculaire et est étroitement liée à l'effet calorigène de la noradrénaline (NA). De plus gros animaux s'adaptent au froid surtout par une amélioration de l'isolation (lapin). La part de chaleur due à l'effet de la NA y est faible. Pour d'autres espèces (souris, hérisson, chien, jeune volaille), le rôle joué par la NA est ou peu clair ou douteux. Enfin, certains animaux (pigeons, poules,porcelets) ne présentent ni amélioration de l'isolation ni production de chaleur par tremblement musculaire au cours de l'acclimatation au froid. Dans ces cas-là, il faut admettre un mécanisme entièrement nouveau d'adaptation au froid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Comparative Physiology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, Prague, CSSR

    L. Jansky

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  1. L. Jansky
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Presented during the Fifth International Biometeorological Congress, 1–7 September 1969, Montreux, Switzerland.

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Jansky, L. Comparative aspects of cold acclimation and nonshivering thermogenesis in homeotherms. Int J Biometeorol 13, 199–209 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01553028

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