Change in Ucp1 mRNA expression following long-term cold exposure under normal or high-fat diet regimes in the cold-intolerant mammal, Suncus murinus.
The house musk shrew (Suncus murinus), or suncus, is a unique experimental mammal that is cold intolerant. However, even basic knowledge of brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is important for non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), is minimal. Therefore, we exposed suncus for 18 days to mild cold temperatures (8-14 degrees C) and/or a high-fat diet, which are factors that increase NST, and measured two mRNAs that are critical for NST in BAT, uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) and type II 5'-deiodinase (D2). Neither mild cold exposure nor a high-fat diet alone induced up-regulation of the mRNAs. However, combinations of cold exposure and high-fat diet significantly increased both mRNAs. Therefore, cold intolerance in suncus may be partly caused by dietary components.
Suzuki
Daisuke
D
Laboratory of Animal Management & Resources, School of Bio-Agricultural Sciences, Department of Teratology and Genetics, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
Murata
Yoshiharu
Y
Oda
Sen-ichi
S
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D007035:Hypothermia; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D012788:Shrews / Q000502:physiology*; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1