אסיף מאגר המחקר החקלאי

Caecal function provides the energy of fermentation without liberating heat in the poikilothermic mammal, Heterocephalus glaber

Year:

1992

Source of publication :

Authors :

Volume :

162

Co-Authors:

Yahav, S., Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa
Buffenstein, R., Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa

Facilitators :

Link :

Abstract:

This paper presents the first report of a mammalian internal organ with a lower temperature than its abdominal surrounds. Heterocephalus glaber, the naked mole-rat, is a poikilothermic mammal that leads a strictly subterranean existence and consumes a high proportion of fibre in its diet. The fermentation chamber in these animals appears to absorb rather than generate heat and the temperature in it was consistently 1.2±0.5°C (n=17) lower than rectal temperature. A caecum with a lower temperature than its abdominal surrounds provides an internal heat sink which could be advantageous for metabolic heat dissipation in the plugged humid burrows in which the naked mole-rat permanently resides. © 1992 Springer-Verlag.

Note:

Related Files :

Related Content

More details

You may also be interested in