Blumstein Danielle M, MacManes Matthew D
University of New Hampshire, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences Department, Durham, NH 03824, USA.
J Exp Biol. 2024 Dec 15;227(24). doi: 10.1242/jeb.247978. Epub 2024 Dec 16.
Understanding the relationship between dietary fat and physiological responses is crucial in species adapted to arid environments where water scarcity is common. In this study, we present a comprehensive exploration of gene expression across five tissues (kidney, liver, lung, gastrointestinal tract and hypothalamus) and 17 phenotypic measurements, investigating the effects of dietary fat in the desert-adapted cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus). We show impacts on immune function, circadian gene regulation and mitochondrial function for mice fed a lower-fat diet compared with mice fed a higher-fat diet. In arid environments with severe water scarcity, even subtle changes in organismal health and water balance can affect physical performance, potentially impacting survival and reproductive success. This study sheds light on the complex interplay between diet, physiological processes and environmental adaptation, providing valuable insights into the multifaceted impacts of dietary choices on organismal well-being and adaptation strategies in arid habitats.
了解膳食脂肪与生理反应之间的关系对于适应干旱环境（缺水情况常见）的物种至关重要。在本研究中，我们全面探索了沙漠适应性仙人掌小鼠（刚毛棉鼠）五个组织（肾脏、肝脏、肺、胃肠道和下丘脑）中的基因表达以及17种表型测量，研究了膳食脂肪的影响。我们发现，与高脂饮食的小鼠相比，低脂饮食的小鼠的免疫功能、昼夜节律基因调控和线粒体功能受到影响。在严重缺水的干旱环境中，即使机体健康和水平衡的细微变化也会影响身体表现，可能影响生存和繁殖成功率。这项研究揭示了饮食、生理过程和环境适应之间的复杂相互作用，为饮食选择对机体健康的多方面影响以及干旱栖息地的适应策略提供了宝贵见解。
