Hibernating animals

Hibernating animals lower their body temperature, slowing down life processes. 

In the winter the multitude suppose everything to be dead, because the earth is bound in the chains of frost, so that nothing is allowed to sprout forth. But as soon as the spring comes, and the cold is vanquished by the power of the Sun, everything is restored to life, the trees and herbs put forth buds, leaves, and blossoms, the hibernating animals creep forth from... 

The first in vivo evidence for the involvement of this tissue in heat production was obtained from experiments on hibernating animals. Thermocouples were placed within brown adipose tissue during arousal from hibernation the... 

An interesting observation is tiiat tile larger tiie amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the diet of hibernating animals, prior to hibernation, tiie lower tile body temperature falls during hibernation. The lower tiie temperature, tiie lower is the metabolic rate, which is important in survival from a prolonged period of hibernation. It is suggested that this is caused by an increase in fluidity of membranes but the mechanism is not known. 

Thermogenin is a natural uncoupler found in the mitochondria of brown fat in hibernating animals and infants. 

In some animals, triacylglycerols stored under the skin serve not only as energy stores but as insulation against low temperatures. Seals, walruses, penguins, and other warm-blooded polar animals are amply padded with triacylglycerols. In hibernating animals (bears, for... 

As a result of this short-circuiting of protons, the energy of oxidation is not conserved by ATP formation but is dissipated as heat, which contributes to maintaining the body temperature of the newborn. Hibernating animals also depend on uncoupled mitochondria of brown fat to generate heat during their long dormancy (see Box 17-1). 

Human infants, and many hibernating animals, have adipose tissue called brown fat, which is specialized to generate heat rather than ATP during oxidation of fatty acids. Adult humans have very little brown fat tissue. 

Do you expect hibernating animals to show signs of PEM under any circumstances ... 

It is possible to add uncoupling agents that prevent the formation of ATP. In such cases there is increased oxygen consumption and generation of heat. Hibernating animals may use this mechanism to their advantage. 

Noise pollution can also cause distress in life forms other than human. For example, sudden loud noises can wake hibernating animals. This, in turn, raises their metabolic rates and can cause them to consume fat reserves they need to survive through to spring. 

Animal toxicity is primarily related to ingestion of the plant C. autumnale. Colchicine is available as a pesticide for burrowing animals. The estimated toxic dose for cows is lOgkg with fresh leaves or 2 or 3gkg with dried leaves. Symptoms may include gait disorders, hypersalivation, bloody vomitus, and diarrhea. Death within 72 h has occurred secondary to shock. It is only slightly toxic to cold-blooded and hibernating animals. 

What chemical process do hibernating animals use to stay warm ... 

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