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TRPM8-dependent shaking in mammals and birds
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|January 18, 2024
Summary
The wet dog shake (WDS) behavior, crucial for thermoregulation, is triggered by TRPM8 in both mammals and birds. This finding suggests TRPM8 is key for sensing wetness and evolved convergently in species with fur and feathers.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Sensory biology
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Thermoregulation in warm-blooded animals necessitates efficient water removal from fur and feathers.
- The "wet dog shake" (WDS) behavior is well-documented in mammals but less studied in birds.
- TRPM8 is identified as a key cold transducer in mammals, but its role in wetness-induced shaking across species is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of TRPM8 in wetness-induced shaking behavior across different species.
- To determine if TRPM8 mediates the "wet dog shake" in both mammals and birds.
- To explore the evolutionary implications of TRPM8 in water expulsion behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Administration of a novel TRPM8 agonist to rodents and birds.
- Observation and analysis of shaking behaviors induced by the agonist and water spraying.
- Experimental validation using TRPM8-deficient mice to assess the dependence of WDS.
Main Results:
- A novel TRPM8 agonist successfully induced WDS in both rodents and birds.
- The induced shaking behavior mimicked natural WDS responses to water exposure.
- TRPM8 was confirmed as essential for WDS onset in water-sprayed mice.
- Evidence suggests TRPM8 dependence for WDS in all tested species.
Conclusions:
- Wetness-induced shaking behavior (WDS) in mammals and birds is dependent on TRPM8.
- TRPM8 acts as a wetness sensor in both furred and feathered animals.
- Convergent evolution likely favored similar WDS mechanisms, involving TRPM8, for water expulsion in diverse species.
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