title: Food deprivation in the common vole (Microtus arvalis) and the tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus).
abstract: Arvicolinae voles are small herbivores relying on constant food availability with weak adaptations to tolerate prolonged food deprivation. The present study performed a comparative analysis on the responses to 4-18 h of food deprivation in the common vole (Microtus arvalis) and the tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus). Both species exhibited rapid decreases in the plasma and liver carbohydrate concentrations during phase I of fasting and the decline in the liver glycogen level was more pronounced in the tundra vole. The plasma thyroxine concentrations of the common vole decreased after 4 h. Lipid mobilization (phase II of fasting) was indicated by the increased plasma free fatty acid levels after 8-18 (the common vole) or 4-18 h (the tundra vole) and by the elevated lipase activities. In the tundra vole, the plasma ghrelin concentrations increased after 12 h possibly to stimulate appetite. Both species showed increased liver lipid concentrations after 4 h and plasma aminotransferase and creatine kinase activities after 12-18 h of food deprivation implying liver dysfunction and skeletal muscle damage. No signs of stimulated protein catabolism characteristic to phase III of fasting were present during 18 h without food.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences, University of Joensuu, Joensuu, Finland. ammusto@cc.joensuu.fi
authors.forename: Anne-Mari
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mustonen
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saarela
authors.forename: Petteri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nieminen
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002980:Climate; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D011506:Proteins; D000641:Ammonia; D014508:Urea; D006003:Glycogen; D009584:Nitrogen