Thermogenesis in the marsupial Sminthopsis crassicuadata; Effect of catecholamines and diet
Date
1998
Authors
Clements, F.
Hope, P.
Daniels, C.
Chapman, I.
Wittert, G.
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Australian Journal of Zoology, 1998; 46(4):381-390
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<jats:p>The fat-tailed dunnart ( Sminthopsis crassicaudata ) is a small carnivorous marsupial with detectable brown adipose tissue. In order to determine whether catecholamines and food intake increase thermogenesis in this species, we measured the response of oxygen consumption (Vo2) to (i) intraperitoneal noradrenaline (0.25–4.0 mg kg-1), and (ii) food intake. The effect of nutritional status and macronutrient composition of the diet on the Vo2 response to food intake was determined by feeding both non-deprived and 24-h-food-deprived animals with either laboratory diet (1.01 Kcal g-1 (4.2 KJ g-1), 20% fat) or live mealworms ( Tenebrio molitor larvae) (2.99 Kcal g-1 (12.5 KJ g-1), 30% fat). Intraperitoneal injection of noradrenaline at doses of 0.25 and 0.5 mg kg-1 increased Vo2 by 14% and 31% respectively at 30 min (P = 0.05), whereas noradrenaline at 2 and 4 mg kg-1 decreased Vo2 by 10% and 31% respectively (P = 0.05). Following food intake, Vo2 increased in both non-deprived (P &lt; 0.05) and 24-h-food-deprived (P &lt; 0.05) animals. While the magnitude of the increase in Vo2 was similar in animals fed with either laboratory diet or mealworms, both diets increased Vo2 more in non-deprived than in 24-h-food-deprived animals (P &lt; 0.05). These results suggest that in S. crassicaudata (i) catecholamines increase thermogenesis and (ii) the magnitude of diet-induced thermogenesis is dependent on both the nutritional status of the animal and the macronutrient composition of the diet.</jats:p>
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© CSIRO 1998