Essential Fatty Acids: Their Impact on Free-living Alpine Marmots (Marmota marmota)

Bruns, Ute; Frey-Roos, Fredy; Pudritz, Sabine; Tataruch, Frieda; Ruf, T.; Arnold, Walter

doi:10.1007/978-3-662-04162-8_23

Cited by 23 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…This conclusion is supported by a previous finding in the same species; a diet supplemented with PUFA had no effect on the SP-induced decrease in M b compared with food rich in MUFA and SFA (Gutowski et al, 2011). In contrast, feeding a PUFA-enriched diet resulted in a diminished loss of M b over the whole hibernation period in alpine marmots (M. marmota) (Bruns et al, 2000), whereas a diet deficient in essential fatty acids increased the loss of M b in yellow-bellied marmots (M. flaviventris) (Florant et al, 1993). In a daily heterotherm, the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), torporenhancing effects of increased PUFA availability were also…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Effects of unsaturated fatty acids on torpor frequency and diet selection in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

Diedrich¹,

Steinlechner²,

Scherbarth³

2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been shown to play a beneficial role in hibernating mammals. High amounts of dietary PUFA led to an earlier hibernation onset, deeper and longer hibernation bouts and a higher proportion of hibernating animals in several species. In contrast, the relevance of dietary PUFA for daily heterotherms exhibiting only brief and shallow torpor bouts is less well studied. Therefore, diets differing in PUFA composition were used to examine the effects on the frequency of spontaneous daily torpor in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). In contrast to earlier studies, we were interested in whether the ratio of n-6 to n-3 PUFA affects torpor expression, and in comparison with a diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Although we found a positive effect on torpor frequency in hamsters fed a diet rich in n-6 PUFA compared with the groups fed diets either rich in n-3 PUFA or MUFA, the latter two groups did not show unusually low torpor frequencies. The results of the additional diet choice experiment indicated that hamsters in short photoperiod select food with only a slight excess of n-6 PUFA compared with n-3 PUFA (ratio of 1 to 1.5). However, there was no significant difference in torpor frequency between the diet choice group and hamsters fed on standard chow with a sevenfold excess of n-6 PUFA. In summary, the present data strongly indicate that the dietary composition of unsaturated fatty acids plays a minor role in the occurrence of spontaneous daily torpor in Djungarian hamsters.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Effects of unsaturated fatty acids on torpor frequency and diet selection in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

Diedrich¹,

Steinlechner²,

Scherbarth³

2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Because regulating T b above T a is energetically expensive and requires substantial energy reserves, arctic and alpine species must seek the energetic savings that accompany low T bÀmin if they are to survive the winter. The ecological constraints imposed by arctic and alpine environments may thus force animals to maximize PUFA intake (Bruns et al, 2000). The size of the resulting oxidative challenge will simultaneously select for the highest possible capacity of the oxidative defence system either through an increased production of antioxidant enzymes or by greater selection and retention of vitamin C and E. These species may not show a reduction in torpor depth and duration when challenged by high-PUFA diets in the laboratory, simply because they have evolved the antioxidant capacity that allows them to cope with PUFA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their depot fats contain proportionately less linoleic acid than the average for the four most available plant items in their environment and the same is true for linolenic acid (Hill and Florant, 1999). Although studies indicate that free-ranging S. lateralis and M. flaviventris may adjust dietary PUFA intake to optimize rather than maximize the PUFA content of their depot fats, one field study (Bruns et al, 2000) identifies a potential cost to submaximal PUFA levels. Studying free-ranging alpine marmots (M. marmota), Bruns et al (2000) measured the increase in PUFA content of white adipose tissue prior to hibernation and then monitored both over-winter T b using temperature-sensitive radio transmitters and over-winter mass loss for animals of known PUFA content.…”

Section: Food Selection Based On Pufa Contentmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Although studies indicate that free-ranging S. lateralis and M. flaviventris may adjust dietary PUFA intake to optimize rather than maximize the PUFA content of their depot fats, one field study (Bruns et al, 2000) identifies a potential cost to submaximal PUFA levels. Studying free-ranging alpine marmots (M. marmota), Bruns et al (2000) measured the increase in PUFA content of white adipose tissue prior to hibernation and then monitored both over-winter T b using temperature-sensitive radio transmitters and over-winter mass loss for animals of known PUFA content. She found that animals with the highest PUFA content had the lowest mean T b and lowest mass loss over winter.…”

Section: Food Selection Based On Pufa Contentmentioning

confidence: 97%

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The role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the expression of torpor by mammals: a review

Munro

Thomas

2004

Zoology

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“…In ground squirrels, specific nutritional components have been shown to be critical for developmental processes and hibernation patterns (Frank and Storey 1995;Pulawa and Florant 2000). Numerous studies have demonstrated that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) affect hibernation, as PUFAs can enhance the duration and depth of mammalian torpor (Bruns et al 2000;Florant 1998;Florant et al 1993;Frank and Storey 1995;Geiser and Kenagy 1987;Geiser et al 1992;Harlow and Frank 2001;Hill and Florant 2000). PUFA content of plants can vary with species, season, and among different parts of the plant (Florant et al 1990;Quinn 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of nutritional factors on juvenile development in male European ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus)

Strauss¹,

Hoffmann²,

Millesi³

2007

Mammalian Biology

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In European ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus) as in other obligate hibernators, physiological processes underlie strict time constraints. Especially for the juveniles growth and prehibernatory fattening are temporally very limited. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of specific nutritional factors on development in juvenile males. Male ground squirrels were investigated for a 7-week period starting at natal emergence. Individuals were assigned to 1 of 3 experimental groups and were provided with a diet either high in proteins or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The third group was used as a control and was fed with a standard rat diet. Food quality affected growth in that males of the high-protein group had significantly larger head lengths in week 4, 5, and 6 after natal emergence than those of the other 2 groups. However, body mass did not differ significantly between the groups. All juvenile males showed an increase in plasma testosterone levels from week 1-2 to week 3-4 post-emergence, thereafter testosterone secretion remained stable until week 5-6. The daily testosterone increase after the first 2 weeks was significantly higher in the PUFA group compared to the other 2 groups. The results underline the importance of diet composition for growth rates and the timing of gonadal activation during early development in this species.

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Essential Fatty Acids: Their Impact on Free-living Alpine Marmots (Marmota marmota)

Cited by 23 publications

References 21 publications

Effects of unsaturated fatty acids on torpor frequency and diet selection in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

Effects of unsaturated fatty acids on torpor frequency and diet selection in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

The role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the expression of torpor by mammals: a review

Effects of nutritional factors on juvenile development in male European ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus)

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