Biomaterial Database

Protein metabolism and urea recycling in rodent hibernators. 1980

M L Riedesel, and J M Steffen

A review of the metabolism of hibernators supports the argument that protein utilization is an essential aspect of hibernation. Several lines of evidence in support of this hypothesis are discussed, including (1) the field preferences of some hibernators for a diet rich in protein prior to hibernation, (2) the gluconeogenic maintenance of glycogen stores during hibernation, (3) the maintenance of plasma amino acid levels during hibernation and their elevation during the process of arousal, (4) changes in levels of nonprotein nitrogen with hibernation, (5) the potential for urea recycling by intestinal microflora in active fasted animals, and (6) the lack of correlation between loss of lean body mass and urea recovery during the hibernating season. These data serve to emphasize the contribution of protein metabolism to the overall energetic adjustments required for survival at a lower body temperature.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009584	Nitrogen	An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and atomic weight [14.00643; 14.00728]. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids and found in all living cells.
D011506	Proteins	Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein.	Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D001834	Body Water	Fluids composed mainly of water found within the body.	Water, Body
D006003	Glycogen
D006605	Hibernation	The dormant state in which some warm-blooded animal species pass the winter. It is characterized by narcosis and by sharp reduction in body temperature and metabolic activity and by a depression of vital signs.	Hibernation, Artificial,Induced Hibernation,Artificial Hibernation,Artificial Hibernations,Hibernation, Induced,Hibernations,Induced Hibernations
D000596	Amino Acids	Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins.	Amino Acid,Acid, Amino,Acids, Amino
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
D012377	Rodentia	A mammalian order which consists of 29 families and many genera.	Beavers,Capybaras,Castor Beaver,Dipodidae,Hydrochaeris,Jerboas,Rodents,Beaver,Capybara,Hydrochaeri,Jerboa,Rodent,Rodentias
D012589	Sciuridae	A family of the order Rodentia which contains 49 genera. Some of the more common genera are MARMOTA, which includes the marmot and woodchuck; Sciurus, the gray squirrel, S. carolinensis, and the fox squirrel, S. niger; Tamias, the eastern and western chipmunk; and Tamiasciurus, the red squirrel. The flying squirrels, except the scaly-tailed Anomaluridae, also belong to this family.	Chipmunks,Citellus,Eutamias,Prairie Dogs,Spermophilus,Squirrels,Susliks,Tamias,Chipmunk,Dog, Prairie,Dogs, Prairie,Prairie Dog,Squirrel,Suslik