| Bioenergetics and intestinal phenotypic flexibility in the microbiotherid marsupial (Dromiciops gliroides) from the temperate forest in South America. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21627996 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The microbiotherid marsupial Dromiciops gliroides inhabits the temperate forests of the Southern hemisphere, facing seasonal nutritional and energetic bottlenecks due to its apparently facultative insectivory/frugivory. In order to understand the physiological processes behind this ecological pattern, we studied the morpho-physiological changes that D. gliroides exhibits after dietary acclimation, in a sample of 21 wild-caught individuals fed over 1month with ad libitum diet of: (1) fruit, (2) insects or (3) a mix of insects and fruit. In addition, we measured oxygen consumption (VO(2)) at resting conditions. We also performed enzyme assays (sucrase, maltase, trehalase and aminopeptidase N) and measurements of organ morphology. We found that D. gliroides cannot fulfil its nutrient requirements only from insects or fruit. It needs a mixed diet in order to maintain its body mass and energy balance. However, as a response of diet acclimation, individuals showed several-fold changes in the activities of aminopeptidase-N, maltase and sucrase (but not trehalase). This result, both the magnitude of change and the simultaneous effects on three enzymes suggests that D. gliroides could exhibit adaptive phenotypic plasticity in the activity of intestinal enzymes. This study suggests also that D. gliroides, the only living representative of the Microbiotheria order, exhibits physiological adaptations to a generalist diet. |
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Authors:
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Pablo A Cortés; Marcela Franco; Pablo Sabat; Silvia A Quijano; Roberto F Nespolo |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-5-24 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology Volume: - ISSN: 1531-4332 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 May |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-6-1 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9806096 Medline TA: Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc. |
Affiliation:
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Instituto de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias,Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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