食物限制对雄性大绒鼠能量代谢特征的影响

Effects of food restriction on energy metabolism in male Eothenomys miletus

为探讨横断山区大绒鼠适应食物匮乏的适应对策,将成年雄性大绒鼠随机分为自由取食组和饲喂正常摄食量的80%限食组。测定了自由取食组和限食组雄性大绒鼠的体重、静止代谢率、非颤抖性产热以及体脂含量、血清瘦素含量、肝脏鲜重、褐色脂肪组织重量和消化道形态。结果显示:限食使雄性大绒鼠的体重、体脂含量、静止代谢率、非颤抖性产热、褐色脂肪组织重量和大肠、小肠长度显著降低,使盲肠内容物重量显著增加。血清瘦素含量与体重、体脂含量呈极显著正相关。在限食条件下,大绒鼠主要通过降低体重、基础代谢和产热的能量支出以及动用体内脂肪以应对食物资源短缺的环境条件,瘦素可能参与了能量代谢和体重的适应性调节。

We investigated physiological adaptation under conditions of food restriction in Eothenomys miletus inhabiting the Hengduan Mountain region. Adult male E. miletus were randomly assigned either to a control group （food ad libitum） or a food restriction group （80% of calorie intake relative to control）, and body mass, resting metabolic rate （RMR）, nonshiv- ering thermogenesis （NST）, body fat content, serum leptin levels, liver mass, brown adipose tissue （BAT） mass, and morphological parameters of the digestive tract in male E. miletus were measured. The results showed that body mass, body fat content, RMR, NST, BAT mass, liver mass, large intestine length and small intestine length in the food restriction group were lower than those in the control group. In contrast, caecum content mass in the food restriction group was signif- icantly higher relative to that of the control group. In addition, serum leptin levels were positively correlated with body mass and body fat content. These results suggest that E. miletus apply physiological adjustments to adapt to reduced food a- vailability by reducing body mass, body fat content and energy metabolism. Serum leptin may participate in the regulation of energy balance and body mass in E. miletus during food restriction.