Document Detail


The effect of melatonin administration and short exposures to cold on body temperature of the blind subterranean mole rat (Rodentia, Spalax ehrenberghi, Nehring).
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  3711813     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Improvement of the cold resistance capacity of the mole rat (Spalax ehrenbergi, Nehring), a blind subterranean rodent, was achieved following subcutaneous melatonin administration. Melatonin-treated mole rats exhibited reduction both in initial body temperature (Tbo) and in the decrease of body temperature (delta Tb) after 6 hours of exposure to cold. The tested mole rats were acclimated to and kept during the experiment, under long (16L/8D) photoperiod schedule while the effects of melatonin administration on body temperature simulated the effects of short photoperiod conditions. These results suggest that in mole rats, melatonin biochemically mediates photoperiodic information into body temperature physiological response. As a byproduct of the original experiment, it was found that frequently repeated short (6 hours) exposure to cold (Ta = 5 +/- 1 degrees C) can in itself initiate an improvement of cold resistance capacity similar to the effect of melatonin administration. This supports the idea that mole rats may improve their cold resistance in response to either photoperiodic or climatic changes.
Authors:
G Heth; P Pevet; E Nevo; A Beiles
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of experimental zoology     Volume:  238     ISSN:  0022-104X     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Exp. Zool.     Publication Date:  1986 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1986-06-27     Completed Date:  1986-06-27     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375365     Medline TA:  J Exp Zool     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Blindness
Body Temperature* / drug effects
Body Temperature Regulation / drug effects
Body Weight
Cold Temperature
Melatonin / pharmacology*
Rodentia / physiology*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
73-31-4/Melatonin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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