Hibernation induces significant molecular and cellular adaptations in the retina to maintain function under reduced metabolic conditions. This study aimed to investigate the expression of neuronal, synaptic, and glial markers in the retina of Spermophilus xanthoprymnus during pre-hibernation and hibernation periods using immunohistochemical staining. Synaptophysin expression, restricted to the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and outer […]
Diverse vertebrate species utilize hibernation as an energy-management strategy to survive long-term resource scarcity. Many hibernating and non-hibernating species employ food hoarding as a behavioral mechanism for storing surplus energy. Although the thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus, 13LGS) relies mainly on body fat as fuel during hibernation, they also hoard food under natural and captive […]
Thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) are obligate hibernators capable of reducing their metabolic rates by up to 99 % during winter. Their ability to remain dormant without food for an extended period in cold conditions has made them compelling subjects for research. Developing a clearer understanding of mechanisms surrounding the pre-transcriptional control of hibernating tissues […]
In nature, many animals respond to cold by entering hibernation, while in clinical settings, controlled cooling is used in transplantation and emergency medicine. However, the molecular mechanisms that enable cells to survive severe cold are still not fully understood. One key aspect of cold adaptation is the global downregulation of protein synthesis. Studying it in […]
Predicting species range shifts in response to environmental change requires the determination of regions where individuals maintain a positive energy budget. For hibernating animals, this budget depends on two physiological states (normothermy and torpor) that alternate in response to ambient temperature. To study range shifts of hibernators like the common noctule (Nyctalus noctula), we developed […]