Geiser F, Kenagy G J
Am J Physiol. 1987 May;252(5 Pt 2):R897-901. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.1987.252.5.R897.
Membrane lipids of vertebrate animals that tolerate cold are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Because the lipid composition of cellular membranes in mammals can be experimentally altered by diet, we investigated whether a diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids would lengthen bouts of torpor and reduce the minimum body temperature in hibernating chipmunks (Eutamias amoenus) compared with a diet rich in saturated fatty acids. Animals on the highly unsaturated diet showed significantly longer bouts of torpor, lower minimum body temperatures, and lower metabolic rates than those on a saturated diet. Animals on a control diet were intermediate. These dietary adjustments apparently influence the control of body temperature by the central nervous system, which results in a modification of the pattern of torpor. The observations also suggest a role of nutritional ecology in hibernation.
能够耐受寒冷的脊椎动物的膜脂富含多不饱和脂肪酸。由于哺乳动物细胞膜的脂质组成可以通过饮食进行实验性改变，我们研究了与富含饱和脂肪酸的饮食相比，富含多不饱和脂肪酸的饮食是否会延长蛰伏期并降低冬眠花栗鼠（美洲花栗鼠）的最低体温。与食用饱和脂肪酸饮食的动物相比，食用高度不饱和脂肪酸饮食的动物的蛰伏期明显更长，最低体温更低，代谢率也更低。食用对照饮食的动物则处于中间状态。这些饮食调整显然会影响中枢神经系统对体温的控制，从而导致蛰伏模式的改变。这些观察结果还表明营养生态学在冬眠中发挥作用。
