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The energy budget, thermogenic capacity and behavior in Swiss mice exposed to a consecutive decrease in temperatures.

Zhi-Jun Zhao¹, Qing-Sheng Chi, Jing Cao

¹School of Agricultural Science, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong, 252059, China. zhaozj73@yahoo.com.cn

The Journal of Experimental Biology

|November 16, 2010

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Sustainable energy intake in cold-exposed mice is limited by heat dissipation capacity, not just heat production. Severe cold stresses thermogenesis, causing weight loss and lower body temperature.

Area of Science:

Animal Physiology
Energetics
Thermoregulation

Background:

Sustainable energy intake (SusEI) limits animal survival and reproduction.
Factors limiting SusEI, especially in cold environments, are debated.
Small mammals face significant energy demands for thermoregulation in cold.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how ambient temperature affects food intake, digestible energy intake (DEI), and thermogenic capacity in Swiss mice.
To determine the factors limiting SusEI under cold stress.
To examine behavioral changes in response to cold exposure.

Main Methods:

Swiss mice were exposed to decreasing ambient temperatures (-15°C to 23°C).
Measurements included food intake, DEI, body mass, carcass fat content, body temperature, and metabolic rate.

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Thermogenic capacity (nonshivering thermogenesis, serum T3) and behavioral patterns were assessed.

Main Results:

Cold-exposed mice showed decreased body mass, fat content, and body temperature, with increased DEI.
Feeding time increased, while general activity time decreased with lower temperatures.
Resting metabolic rate, nonshivering thermogenesis, and T3 levels increased, but plateaued at severe cold.

Conclusions:

SusEI in cold-exposed mice is constrained by both heat production and heat dissipation limits.
Moderate cold may relax heat dissipation limits, allowing increased food intake.
Severe cold may exceed thermogenic capacity, leading to heat loss, weight loss, and lower body temperature, suggesting heat dissipation limits are critical.