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Nucleoli undergo structural and molecular modifications during hibernation.
M Malatesta1, G Gazzanelli, S Battistelli
1Istituto di Istologia ed Analisi di Laboratorio, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, Italy. malatesta@uniurb.it
Chromosoma
|January 11, 2001
Summary
During deep hibernation, nucleoli in dormice undergo significant structural and molecular changes, interacting with other nuclear components. These modifications appear progressively and resolve upon arousal, suggesting a hibernation-specific nuclear function.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Animal Physiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The nucleolus is a dynamic cellular structure that adjusts its activity based on metabolic state.
- Hibernating animals exhibit drastic metabolic changes, making them a relevant model for studying cellular adaptations.
- Understanding nucleolar modifications during hibernation can provide insights into cellular resilience and metabolic regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate structural and molecular changes in hepatocyte nucleoli of edible dormice (Glis glis) during different phases of hibernation.
- To identify specific nucleolar components and their interactions with other nuclear bodies during deep hibernation.
- To determine the temporal dynamics of nucleolar modifications in relation to the hibernation cycle.
Main Methods:
- Ultrastructural analysis of hepatocyte nuclei from euthermic and hibernating dormice.
- Immunocytochemical analysis to detect specific nucleolar and nuclear components.
- Comparative analysis of nucleolar morphology and composition between different physiological states.
Main Results:
- In deep hibernation, dormice nucleoli exhibit structural alterations, including nucleoplasmic invaginations and extensions of the dense fibrillar component.
- Nucleoli in deep hibernation show increased contact with nuclear bodies like coiled bodies and fibro-granular material.
- The dense fibrillar component of hibernating dormice nucleoli contains significant amounts of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), typically found in the nucleoplasm.
Conclusions:
- Hibernation induces complex structural and molecular rearrangements within the nucleolus, involving interactions with nucleoplasmic components.
- These nucleolar modifications are likely associated with specific functional adaptations required during the deep hibernation phase.
- Nucleolar changes appear to develop progressively during hibernation and are reversible upon arousal, indicating a dynamic response to metabolic state.