Image of a Siberian hamster from Wikimedia Commons
Exposing Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) to shorter photoperiods (think winter) for about two months causes the animals to spontaneously undergo daily bouts of torpor during which time they decrease metabolic rate to conserve energy. New research published in the American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology was designed to examine whether decreases in growth hormone secretion was involved in stimulating these daily torpor episodes. By administering a chemical that inhibits growth hormone, pasireotide (SOM230), they discovered that inhibition of this pathway increased both the frequency and duration of torpor. Somatostatin is a hormone that naturally inhibits growth hormone release in the body. The findings from this study suggest that increased release of somatostatin may be a stimulus for triggering torpor in these animals.
Source:
Scherbarth F, Deidrich V, Dumbell RA, Schmid HA, Steinlechner S, Barrett P. Somatostatin receptor activation is involved in the control of daily torpor in a seasonal mammal.
from ScienceBlogs http://ift.tt/1LRyHlj
Image of a Siberian hamster from Wikimedia Commons
Exposing Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) to shorter photoperiods (think winter) for about two months causes the animals to spontaneously undergo daily bouts of torpor during which time they decrease metabolic rate to conserve energy. New research published in the American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology was designed to examine whether decreases in growth hormone secretion was involved in stimulating these daily torpor episodes. By administering a chemical that inhibits growth hormone, pasireotide (SOM230), they discovered that inhibition of this pathway increased both the frequency and duration of torpor. Somatostatin is a hormone that naturally inhibits growth hormone release in the body. The findings from this study suggest that increased release of somatostatin may be a stimulus for triggering torpor in these animals.
Source:
Scherbarth F, Deidrich V, Dumbell RA, Schmid HA, Steinlechner S, Barrett P. Somatostatin receptor activation is involved in the control of daily torpor in a seasonal mammal.
from ScienceBlogs http://ift.tt/1LRyHlj
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