The effect of a linseed oil diet on hibernation in yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris).
The essential fatty acids (EFAs), alpha-linolenic acid (18:3,n-3) and linoleic acid (18:2,n-6) are known to be important for mammalian hibernation. In marmots (Marmota flaviventris), reducing both dietary EFAs alters hibernation patterns by causing an increase in energy expenditure, but hibernation still occurs. In this study, marmots fed a diet high in alpha-linolenic acid, with normal linoleic acid levels, had significantly (p < 0.05) more alpha-18:3 in their WAT and plasma unesterified fatty acids after 4 months than did marmots fed a control diet. During the winter, the control marmots hibernated normally while the marmots fed the alpha-18:3 diet did not hibernate, continued to eat, and lost less mass than the control group during the winter. These results suggest that alpha-18:3 may play a role in regulating normal hibernation behavior in marmots.
Hill
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VL
Colorado State University, Department of Biology, Ft. Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Florant
G L
GL
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006605:Hibernation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008392:Marmota / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D005227:Fatty Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D008043:Linseed Oil