Morphological plasticity of vertebrate aestivation.

摘要: Aestivation or daily torpor is an adaptive tactic to survive hot and dry periods of low food availability, has been documented for species lungfishes, teleost fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals. Among these species, aestivation characterized by inactivity fasting, lungfishes amphibians the formation a cocoon around body retard water loss. While metabolic physiological changes have well examined, few studies explored morphological responses organs tissues aestivation. Predictably, inactive such as skeletal muscles those gastrointestinal tract would regress during aestivation, thus aid in reduction rate. African experience structure their skin, gills, lungs, heart For anurans, group most thoroughly examined responses, generates significant decreases gut mass modification intestinal epithelium. Intestinal mucosal thickness, enterocyte size, microvillus length anurans are characteristically reduced We can surmise from laboratory on fasting mammals that they likewise atrophy digestive Aestivation-induced loss tissue may be matched with cellular function generating integrative decrease performance metabolism. Ample opportunity exists remedy paucity plasticity examine how dictate immediately following