[Metabolic adaptations of the gerbil, Gerbillus campestris, to a desert climate. Comparison with white mice]

Metabolic rate of gerbils was lower than that of mice (35%). We tried to assess the part played by brown adipose tissue in this low level. Mitochondrial respiration (state 4), protein content and cytochrome-oxidase activity of interscapular BAT mitochondria were very low in gerbils compared to mice, whereas in liver and muscle these parameters were not significantly different. Like in fasting animals, the low level of basal energy expenditure of gerbils may be ascribed to low activity of BAT.