Kondo Noriaki, Sekijima Tsuneo, Kondo Jun, Takamatsu Nobuhiko, Tohya Kazuo, Ohtsu Takashi
Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences, Machida, Tokyo 194-8511, Japan.
Cell. 2006 Apr 7;125(1):161-72. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2006.03.017.
Seasonal hibernation in mammals is under a unique adaptation system that protects organisms from various harmful events, such as lowering of body temperature (Tb), during hibernation. However, the precise factors controlling hibernation remain unknown. We have previously demonstrated a decrease in hibernation-specific protein (HP) complex in the blood of chipmunks during hibernation. Here, HP is identified as a candidate hormone for hibernation. In chipmunks kept in constant cold and darkness, HP is regulated by an individual free-running circannual rhythm that correlates with hibernation. The level of HP complex in the brain increases coincident with the onset of hibernation. Such HP regulation proceeds independently of Tb changes in constant warmth, and Tb decreases only when brain HP is increased in the cold. Blocking brain HP activity using an antibody decreases the duration of hibernation. We suggest that HP, a target of endogenously generated circannual rhythm, carries hormonal signals essential for hibernation to the brain.
哺乳动物的季节性冬眠受一种独特的适应系统调控，该系统能保护机体免受各种有害事件影响，比如在冬眠期间体温（Tb）降低。然而，控制冬眠的确切因素仍不清楚。我们之前已证明，在冬眠期间花栗鼠血液中的冬眠特异性蛋白（HP）复合物会减少。在此，HP被确定为一种冬眠候选激素。在持续处于寒冷和黑暗环境中的花栗鼠体内，HP受一种与冬眠相关的个体自由运行的年周期节律调节。大脑中HP复合物的水平会随着冬眠的开始而升高。这种HP调节在恒定温暖环境下独立于Tb变化进行，只有当大脑中的HP在寒冷环境中增加时，Tb才会降低。使用抗体阻断大脑HP活性会缩短冬眠持续时间。我们认为，HP作为内源性年周期节律的一个靶点，将冬眠所需的激素信号传递至大脑。
