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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
07:56
Measuring Skeletal Muscle Thermogenesis in Mice and Rats
Published on: July 27, 2022
Evolution of Adaptive Non-Shivering Thermogenesis in Mammals
Michaela Keuper1, Martin Jastroch1
1Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SE-106 91, Sweden.
Physiology (Bethesda, Md.)
|June 29, 2026
Summary
Adaptive non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) evolved through a two-stage process, with adipose tissue and UCP1 playing key roles. This diverse evolutionary strategy impacts vertebrate physiology and disease.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Physiology
- Metabolism
Background:
- Endothermy relies on heat generation beyond basal metabolism.
- Adaptive thermogenesis, including shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), is crucial for endotherms.
- NST involves non-contractile mechanisms for heat production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review physiological, comparative, and evolutionary data on adaptive NST.
- To focus on adipose-based thermogenesis mediated by UCP1.
- To explore UCP1-independent heat production and its role.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of existing literature on adaptive NST.
- Comparative analysis across vertebrate taxa.
- Evolutionary modeling of UCP1 function.
Main Results:
- A two-stage evolutionary model for UCP1-mediated thermogenesis in mammals is proposed.
- A pre-thermogenic adipose program preceded efficient UCP1 function.
- UCP1-independent heat production mechanisms in other tissues are less understood and lack strong evidence for dedicated thermogenic roles.
Conclusions:
- Adaptive NST is an evolutionarily diverse strategy, not a single conserved mechanism.
- Understanding NST evolution is vital for human physiology and disease.
- Further research is needed on NST mechanisms in non-eutherian vertebrates and alternative pathways.
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