Crossref journal-article
SAGE Publications
Journal of Biological Rhythms (179)
Abstract

Evidence has recently begun to accumulate that photoperiodic responses of mam mals and birds may affect the control of energy balance and thermoregulation. Exposure to short photoperiod can lower the set point for body temperature regulation in birds and mam mals, as well as the voluntarily selected body temperature in ectothermic lizards. This de crease is accompanied by a reorganization of circadian or ultradian rhythms of body temper ature, particularly an increase in periods spent at rest with minimum body temperatures. Short photoperiod is also used as an environmental cue for induction of seasonal torpor or facilita tion of hibernation. During winter, cold tolerance of small mammals is improved by an in crease of nonshivering thermogenesis in brown fat. Thermogenic capacity of brown fat (res piratory enzymes, mitochondria, uncoupling protein) is enhanced in response to short pho toperiod. This response is mediated via an increase in the activity of sympathetic innervation in brown fat. Moreover, an exposure to short photoperiod prior to low temperatures may act in preparing brown fat for facilitated thermogenesis during acclimation to cold. This shows that photoperiodic control not only affects energy balance indirectly via the control of repro duction or body mass, but may directly interact with central control of thermoregulation and may influence the process of acclimatization.

Bibliography

Heldmaier, G., Steinlechner, S., Ruf, T., Wiesinger, H., & Klingenspor, M. (1989). Photoperiod and Thermoregulation in Vertebrates: Body Temperature Rhythms and Thermogenic Acclimation. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 4(2), 139–153.

Authors 5
  1. Gerhard Heldmaier (first)
  2. Stephan Steinlechner (additional)
  3. Thomas Ruf (additional)
  4. Herbert Wiesinger (additional)
  5. Martin Klingenspor (additional)
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Dates
Type When
Created 18 years, 5 months ago (March 11, 2007, 3:24 a.m.)
Deposited 5 months, 4 weeks ago (March 1, 2025, 5:09 a.m.)
Indexed 1 month ago (July 28, 2025, 5:18 p.m.)
Issued 36 years, 3 months ago (June 1, 1989)
Published 36 years, 3 months ago (June 1, 1989)
Published Online 36 years, 3 months ago (June 1, 1989)
Published Print 36 years, 3 months ago (June 1, 1989)
Funders 0

None

@article{Heldmaier_1989, title={Photoperiod and Thermoregulation in Vertebrates: Body Temperature Rhythms and Thermogenic Acclimation}, volume={4}, ISSN={1552-4531}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/074873048900400211}, DOI={10.1177/074873048900400211}, number={2}, journal={Journal of Biological Rhythms}, publisher={SAGE Publications}, author={Heldmaier, Gerhard and Steinlechner, Stephan and Ruf, Thomas and Wiesinger, Herbert and Klingenspor, Martin}, year={1989}, month=jun, pages={139–153} }