Oxygen consumption and body temperature rhythms in the golden spiny mouse: Responses to changes in day length

A. Haim*, N. Zisapel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

The golden spiny mouse Acomys russatus is a rock dwelling rodent which lives in extremely arid and hot habitats. In Israel it is nocturnal except in areas in which it coexists with the common spiny mouse A. cahirinus. In such places it is diurnal. The daily rhythms of body temperature (Tb) and oxygen consumption (VO2) were compared in mice acclimated to two different photoperiod regimes in the laboratory: 8L:16D (short day) and 16L:8D (long day) at a constant ambient temperature. The daily rhythms of VO2 and of Tb in A. russatus were found to differ greatly under long and short photoperiod. Both parameters peaked at lights-out under both photoperiod regimes. In short day acclimated mice the effect of transmitter implantation was also studied. VO2 values at night were lower after implanting. The results of this study show that Tb and VO2 rhythms are altered by the lighting regimes. Seasonal acclimatization of thermoregulatory mechanisms in the golden spiny mouse are partly induced by changes in photoperiodicity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)775-778
Number of pages4
JournalPhysiology and Behavior
Volume58
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1995

Funding

FundersFunder number
United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation91-00248

    Keywords

    • Daily rhythms
    • Diurnal activity
    • Nocturnal activity
    • Oxygen consumption
    • Photoperiod
    • Rodents
    • Seasonality
    • Thermoregulation

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