• Support PDP
  • About Us
  • Wild Prairie Dogs
  • City Prairie Dogs
  • Volunteer
  • Shop
  • History
  • PDP Documentation
  • Contact PDP

Prairie Dog Pals

Dedicated to the Preservation of Prairie Dogs and their Habitat

Perineuronal net expression in the brain of a hibernating mammal

November 12, 2020 by PDP

LinkedIn0
Twitter0
Facebook0
Google+0
Pinterest0

Abstract

During hibernation, mammals like the 13-lined ground squirrel cycle between physiological extremes. Most of the hibernation season is spent in bouts of torpor, where body temperature, heart rate, and cerebral blood flow are all very low. However, the ground squirrels periodically enter into interbout arousals (IBAs), where physiological parameters return to non-hibernating levels. During torpor, neurons in many brain regions shrink and become electrically quiescent, but reconnect and regain activity during IBA. Previous work showed evidence of extracellular matrix (ECM) changes occurring in the hypothalamus during hibernation that could be associated with this plasticity. Here, we examined expression of a specialized ECM structure, the perineuronal net (PNN), in the forebrain of ground squirrels in torpor, IBA, and summer (non-hibernating). PNNs are known to restrict plasticity, and could be important for retaining essential connections in the brain during hibernation. We found PNNs in three regions of the hypothalamus: ventrolateral hypothalamus, paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and anterior hypothalamic area. We also found PNNs throughout the cerebral cortex, amygdala, and lateral septum. The total area covered by PNNs within the PVN was significantly higher during IBA compared to non-hibernating and torpor (P < 0.01). Additionally, the amount of PNN coverage area per Nissl-stained neuron in the PVN was significantly higher in hibernation compared to non-hibernating (P < 0.05). No other significant differences were found across seasons. The PVN is involved in food intake and homeostasis, and PNNs found here could be essential for retaining vital life functions during hibernation

Anna Marchand  1 , Christine Schwartz  2
  • PMID: 31748912
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01983-w
Email this page
Print Friendly

News

Donate Now
Tweets by @CynomysRex

Categories

  • Conservation
  • Donate
  • Fun
  • How You Can Help
  • Information about Prairie Dogs
  • News
  • PDP Operations
  • Shop
  • Wildlife

Tags

artificial burrows behavior black-footed ferret black-tailed prairie dogs breeding Burrowing Owls burrows cage caps colonies Conservation disease ecology Endangered Species Act events feeding flushing fundraising gophers Gunnison habitat handouts hantavirus hibernation humane pest control keystone species landscape design language newsletter outreach owls photos plague poison Prairie Dog Coalition Prairie Dog Day predators rabies relocation Sevilleta shooting squirrels trapping videos volunteer white-tailed prairie dogs

Links

  • Albuquerque Pet Memorial Service
  • Animal Protection New Mexico
  • Animal Protection Voters
  • Bosque Farm Relocation Project
  • Great Plains Restoration Council
  • Midwest Prairie Dog Shelter
  • New Mexico House Rabbit Society
  • New Mexico Wilderness Alliance
  • Pathways: Wildlife Corridors of NM
  • Prairie Dog Coalition
  • Southwest Veterinary Medical Center
  • VCA Veterinary Hospital
  • Wild Earth Guardians

© Copyright 2015 PrairieDogPals.org | Help a Prairie Dog Today!