Renal metabolic response to thermal stress by three species of ground squirrels

Kidney mass, protein content and enzyme levels were ascertained for control, heat-acclimated and cold-acclimated Spermophilus lateralis, Spermophilus tereticaudus and Amnospermophilus leucurus. Significant changes in kidney mass were observed in all three species. In response to chronic temperature stress, S. lateralis showed a significantly smaller percent change in kidney oxidative metabolism than did S. tereticaudus and A. leucurus. Kidney metabolic response is similar to that of liver in that it reflects an ecological basis for physiological differences.