Desert hamsters(Phodopus roborovskii)are the least known species in the genus Phodopus with respect to ecology and physiology,and deserve scientific attention,particularly because of their small body size.Here,the res...Desert hamsters(Phodopus roborovskii)are the least known species in the genus Phodopus with respect to ecology and physiology,and deserve scientific attention,particularly because of their small body size.Here,the responses of energy metabolism and reproductive function to short photoperiods in desert hamsters were investigated.Male and female desert hamsters were acclimated to either long day(LD)(L:D 16:8 h)or short day(SD)photoperiods(L:D 8:16 h)for three months,and then the females were transferred back to an LD photoperiod for a further five months,while at the end of the SD acclimation the males were killed and measurements were taken for serum leptin as well as molecular markers for thermogenesis.We found that like the other two species from the genus Phodopus,the desert hamsters under SD decreased body mass,increased adaptive thermogenesis as indicated by elevated mitochondrial protein content and uncoupling protein-1 content in brown adipose tissue,and suppressed reproduction compared to those under LD.However,different from the other two species,desert hamsters did not show any differences in energy intake or serum leptin concentration between LD and SD.These data suggest that different species from the same genus respond in different ways to the environmental signals,and the desert adapted species are not as sensitive to change in photoperiod as the other two species.展开更多
We tested the winter immunity enhancement hypothesis(WIEH)on male desert hamsters(Phodopus roborovskii)kept under long-day(LD)and short-day(SD)photoperiods.We assumed that under SD in a laboratory,the adaptive humoral...We tested the winter immunity enhancement hypothesis(WIEH)on male desert hamsters(Phodopus roborovskii)kept under long-day(LD)and short-day(SD)photoperiods.We assumed that under SD in a laboratory,the adaptive humoral immune responsiveness to the antigenic challenge would be enhanced due to the lack of winter physical stressors and food shortages and/or because of the action of an endogenous winter bolstering mechanism,while under LD the immune responsiveness would be suppressed by the activity of the reproductive system.The results support the WIEH in part.We did not find a difference in antibody production in response to sheep erythrocytes between SD and LD hamsters,but SD males had the lower number of granulocytes and the higher number of lymphocytes in white blood cell counts.Reproductive activity was lower in SD males.These males demonstrated an increase in their mass-specific resting metabolic rate,their mass-specific maximal metabolic rate and their level of cortisol.The result of a generalized linear model analysis indicates the negative effect on secondary immunoresponsiveness to sheep erythrocytes of mid-ventral gland size,the organ characterizing individual reproductive quality,and designates a tradeoff between antibody production and reproductive effort.The mass-independent maximal metabolic rate also negatively affected antibody production,indicating a tradeoff between maximal aerobic performance and the adaptive immune function.The higher stress in SD males seems to be the most likely reason for the lack of the effect of daylight duration on antibody production.展开更多
The biology of desert hamster was studied in Hunshandake desert in Inner Mongolia.Results revealed that the breeding duration of this species is from April to October.The average litter size of desert hamster is about...The biology of desert hamster was studied in Hunshandake desert in Inner Mongolia.Results revealed that the breeding duration of this species is from April to October.The average litter size of desert hamster is about 6.7,with 3 and 10 litters as extremes.The birth weight of desert hamster is about 0.7～0.8 gram.Juveniles reach a steady body mass at the age about 2-month-old.The growth course can be fitted by a sigmoidal curve.The main diet of desert hamster is seeds (70～90%) and insects or worms (10%～30%) in the Hunshandake desert.展开更多
This study was carried out to reveal the seasonal dietary variation of striped hamster (Cricetulus barabensis ) in Kubuqi desert of Ordos semi-arid environment in 1996.The food composition was determined by checking s...This study was carried out to reveal the seasonal dietary variation of striped hamster (Cricetulus barabensis ) in Kubuqi desert of Ordos semi-arid environment in 1996.The food composition was determined by checking stomach and pouch contents.The results showed that striped hamster ate more insects and seeds than other foods in spring.The food habit changed to plant leaves and seeds in summer.In autumn the food content was mainly seeds.The animal chose perennial and annual seeds alternatively between summer and autumn.This indicated that the food habit was modified by the availability of food resources and animals’need for water and energy in this arid environment.展开更多
基金The authors would like to thank Dr M.Klingensphor from the Department of Biology,Phillips University,Germany for providing the UCP1 antibody.Thanks to Lina Zhang and Bobin Jing for measuring serum leptin concentrations.Thanks to Gangbin Tang and Jianguo Cui for measuring the UCP1.The study was partly supported by the Joint Project of the Russian Basic Research and the National Natural Science Foundation of China to D.W.and N.V.
文摘Desert hamsters(Phodopus roborovskii)are the least known species in the genus Phodopus with respect to ecology and physiology,and deserve scientific attention,particularly because of their small body size.Here,the responses of energy metabolism and reproductive function to short photoperiods in desert hamsters were investigated.Male and female desert hamsters were acclimated to either long day(LD)(L:D 16:8 h)or short day(SD)photoperiods(L:D 8:16 h)for three months,and then the females were transferred back to an LD photoperiod for a further five months,while at the end of the SD acclimation the males were killed and measurements were taken for serum leptin as well as molecular markers for thermogenesis.We found that like the other two species from the genus Phodopus,the desert hamsters under SD decreased body mass,increased adaptive thermogenesis as indicated by elevated mitochondrial protein content and uncoupling protein-1 content in brown adipose tissue,and suppressed reproduction compared to those under LD.However,different from the other two species,desert hamsters did not show any differences in energy intake or serum leptin concentration between LD and SD.These data suggest that different species from the same genus respond in different ways to the environmental signals,and the desert adapted species are not as sensitive to change in photoperiod as the other two species.
基金This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research in the framework of the program for joint international projects financed by the RFBR and the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(Grant of RFBR-NSFC No.17-54-53206).
文摘We tested the winter immunity enhancement hypothesis(WIEH)on male desert hamsters(Phodopus roborovskii)kept under long-day(LD)and short-day(SD)photoperiods.We assumed that under SD in a laboratory,the adaptive humoral immune responsiveness to the antigenic challenge would be enhanced due to the lack of winter physical stressors and food shortages and/or because of the action of an endogenous winter bolstering mechanism,while under LD the immune responsiveness would be suppressed by the activity of the reproductive system.The results support the WIEH in part.We did not find a difference in antibody production in response to sheep erythrocytes between SD and LD hamsters,but SD males had the lower number of granulocytes and the higher number of lymphocytes in white blood cell counts.Reproductive activity was lower in SD males.These males demonstrated an increase in their mass-specific resting metabolic rate,their mass-specific maximal metabolic rate and their level of cortisol.The result of a generalized linear model analysis indicates the negative effect on secondary immunoresponsiveness to sheep erythrocytes of mid-ventral gland size,the organ characterizing individual reproductive quality,and designates a tradeoff between antibody production and reproductive effort.The mass-independent maximal metabolic rate also negatively affected antibody production,indicating a tradeoff between maximal aerobic performance and the adaptive immune function.The higher stress in SD males seems to be the most likely reason for the lack of the effect of daylight duration on antibody production.
文摘The biology of desert hamster was studied in Hunshandake desert in Inner Mongolia.Results revealed that the breeding duration of this species is from April to October.The average litter size of desert hamster is about 6.7,with 3 and 10 litters as extremes.The birth weight of desert hamster is about 0.7～0.8 gram.Juveniles reach a steady body mass at the age about 2-month-old.The growth course can be fitted by a sigmoidal curve.The main diet of desert hamster is seeds (70～90%) and insects or worms (10%～30%) in the Hunshandake desert.
文摘This study was carried out to reveal the seasonal dietary variation of striped hamster (Cricetulus barabensis ) in Kubuqi desert of Ordos semi-arid environment in 1996.The food composition was determined by checking stomach and pouch contents.The results showed that striped hamster ate more insects and seeds than other foods in spring.The food habit changed to plant leaves and seeds in summer.In autumn the food content was mainly seeds.The animal chose perennial and annual seeds alternatively between summer and autumn.This indicated that the food habit was modified by the availability of food resources and animals’need for water and energy in this arid environment.
