Biomaterial Database

Thermoregulation and non-shivering thermogenesis in the genetically obese (ob/ob) mouse. 1978

P Trayhurn, and W P James

1. The capacity ofr thermoregulation and thermogenesis in lean and genetically obese (ob/ob) mice has been investigated. 2. At 4 degrees C ob/ob mice rapidly die of hypothermia, because of a reduced capacity for cold-induced thermogenesis, but the animals are able to survive if previously adapted to 12 degrees C. 3. At all environmental temperatures between 30 degrees C and 10 degrees C the body temperature of ob/ob mice is 2.0-2.5 degrees C below that of lean animals. This may be due to a lower "setting" for body temperature. 4. At 34 degrees C the oxygen consumption of obese mice is greater than that of the lean animals while at 30 degrees C it is similar. When the environmental temperature is below 30 degrees C the oxygen consumption of the lean mice is greater. The obese animals therefore expend less energy on thermoregulatory thermogenesis. 5. The capacity for non-shivering thermogenesis was measured in lean and obese mice by investigating the effect of an injection of L-nor-adrenaline (1000 microgram/kg body weight) on the metabolic rate at 31 degrees C. Non-shivering thermogenesis was reduced by one-half in the obese animals. 6. One cause of the obesity of the ob/ob mouse is its high metabolic efficiency. We suggest that this high metabolic efficiency is due, at least in part, to less energy being expended on thermoregulatory thermogenesis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008820	Mice, Obese	Mutant mice exhibiting a marked obesity coupled with overeating, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, marked insulin resistance, and infertility when in a homozygous state. They may be inbred or hybrid.	Hyperglycemic Mice,Obese Mice,Mouse, Hyperglycemic,Mouse, Obese,Hyperglycemic Mouse,Mice, Hyperglycemic,Obese Mouse
D010101	Oxygen Consumption	The rate at which oxygen is used by a tissue; microliters of oxygen STPD used per milligram of tissue per hour; the rate at which oxygen enters the blood from alveolar gas, equal in the steady state to the consumption of oxygen by tissue metabolism throughout the body. (Stedman, 25th ed, p346)	Consumption, Oxygen,Consumptions, Oxygen,Oxygen Consumptions
D001833	Body Temperature Regulation	The processes of heating and cooling that an organism uses to control its temperature.	Heat Loss,Thermoregulation,Regulation, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulation, Body,Body Temperature Regulations,Heat Losses,Loss, Heat,Losses, Heat,Regulations, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulations, Body,Thermoregulations
D003080	Cold Temperature	An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm.	Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012768	Shivering	Involuntary contraction or twitching of the muscles. It is a physiologic method of heat production in man and other mammals.	Shiverings
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus